Turkey's Trade Ministry fines Meta 5 million TL for unverified listings

The Turkish Trade Ministry announced that Meta Platforms Istanbul Bilişim Hizmetleri Limited Şirketi violated the Electronic Listing Verification System (EİDS) by publishing real‑estate and vehicle ads on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp without the required identity and authority checks. The ministry imposed an administrative fine of 5 million Turkish lira on Meta and warned real‑estate agencies and vehicle dealers to share only links to EİDS‑verified ads, prohibiting direct ad postings on social media.

The ministry also cautioned consumers against fraudulent listings and deposit scams, urging them to trust only ads verified through EİDS. Following the system’s rollout, the number of for‑sale property listings dropped by 26 % nationwide, from 1.618 million to 1.203 million between 15 February and 9 June, according to Endeksa data. The ministry affirmed that inspections will continue to ensure compliance and protect consumers.