At the opening of the “1st International Symposium on New Horizons in Law and Technology”, held at the The Nation's Library of the Presidency under the theme “The Legal Aspect of Artificial Intelligence Use on Social Media,” Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran stressed that fabricated content created with deepfake technologies is shaping perceptions that, in turn, are being translated into judgements.
Head of Communications Duran stated that digitalisation, which has made its mark across many fields, is also transforming life and bringing new challenges. He emphasised that it is essential to address this issue within a legal framework and to conduct an in-depth analysis of its impacts on individuals.
Head of Communications Duran noted that people are now engaging more through digital platforms, stating that over 5.5 billion people worldwide use the internet.
Head of Communications Duran remarked that social media is being used more intensively with each passing day, stating, "Modes of communication, information flows, and the dynamics of social interaction are evolving rapidly, both in our country and globally. We must not only adapt to this change but also take responsibility for managing it. Just as we would not allow a flood to sweep us away, we cannot allow the turbulence of social media to shape us. Therefore, we must analyse it and focus our efforts on what needs to be done."
Head of Communications Duran noted that with the advancement of technology, the “realm of delusion” enveloping all humanity is also expanding. He stated, "Fabricated content produced through deepfake technologies, the unlawful use of big data, and the boundaries imposed by digital platforms—all of these shape perceptions, and from those perceptions, judgements are then formed."
Head of Communications Duran highlighted that digitalisation has an impact on global politics and diplomacy, noting that international power struggles are increasingly being waged through the ownership and use of social media platforms.
"Families are experiencing the phenomenon of social isolation"
Head of Communications Duran underlined the profound chaos prevailing on social media, noting, "This chaos also has far-reaching effects. In this context, there are necessary actions to be taken and safeguards to be put in place in order to survive this storm without becoming an instrument of certain campaigns. The most vulnerable groups are our children and, in fact, our families."
Head of Communications Duran stated that uncontrolled screen time, digital bullying, and misinformation, as well as biased information, may result in negative impacts on psychosocial health and physical development, and said, "Frankly, families are already experiencing the phenomenon of social isolation."
Noting that social media should no longer be a realm where people reinforce their own views through "filter bubbles" and "echo chambers", Head of Communications Duran remarked, "We need to pay attention to this aspect. In fact, it is important to realise that these echo chambers create polarisation by allowing people to listen to or talk only about what they want to hear. Sadly, we are faced with a social media environment where politics is polarised in this way, which, instead of benefiting us, brings anger, new challenges, and even crimes."
"We are one of the countries most exposed to disinformation"
Recalling the establishment of the Centre for Combating Disinformation under the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, Head of Communications Duran emphasised, "Since 2022, our centre alone has identified and exposed nearly 2,500 cases of disinformation and perception management operations. This, of course, shows that Türkiye is actually one of the countries most exposed to disinformation."
Head of Communications Duran also noted that the processing of personal data is an important security issue, both personally and nationally, saying, "We have repeatedly witnessed data security and privacy violations by social media companies. Why do we emphasise these violations? Because the use of filters and algorithmic bias has become a dominant factor in shaping whether international issues are placed on the agenda or pushed into silence. From this perspective, one of the most striking examples of these manipulations and blackout practices was seen regarding Israel's attacks, specifically the genocide carried out in Gaza. Netanyahu and the massacre network not only used war technology to kill innocent people and carry out genocide, but also manipulated social media accordingly. In this sense, social media was used as a weapon of war."
Mentioning the importance of developing domestic and national platforms, Head of Communications Duran said:
"As Türkiye, we have always placed people at the centre of our policies and our approach to technology." In this framework, the importance President Erdoğan places on people is well known to all of us. The efforts and valuable work put forth with this understanding fill us all with pride. Our independent, reliable, and original platform, 'Next Sosyal', has indeed surpassed 1 million users in a remarkably short period of time. Our international digital platform, 'tabii,' launched by TRT, was created with our unique perspective and understanding of family, addressing a significant need. Available in 54 countries, Tabii has made an impact not only in our country but also throughout our region. At this symposium, I would like to reiterate that, under President Erdoğan's leadership, we will continue to work to diversify local and national platforms in accordance with the vision of the Century of Türkiye. We will do our best to create the safe and fair communication ecosystem that the world requires."
Head of Communications Duran stressed the necessity of legal regulation in the digital space, highlighting that this realm continually evolves with the introduction of new technologies and components on a daily basis.
Emphasising that legal regulations are the most important safeguard for balancing innovation with security, increasing the responsibilities of social network providers, and strengthening user rights, Head of Communications Duran noted that with Law No. 5651, foreign-based social network providers with daily access of more than one million in Türkiye are required to appoint a representative in Türkiye.
Head of Communications Duran stated that Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data also played a critical role in platforms' processing of user data and that the main purpose of the amendments to the laws was to ensure digital security.
Head of Communications Duran said, "We will make every effort to build a secure and fair communication ecosystem by increasing our domestic and national platforms, promoting digital literacy, and further strengthening our legal infrastructure. Because a fairer world is also possible in the digital realm."
In addition, Head of Communications Duran shared a post on his NSocial account regarding the symposium.https://sosyal.teknofest.app/@burhanettinduran/115338222180253253
In his post, Head of Communications Duran stated:
"With the esteemed presence of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, we discussed the legal, societal and security aspects of digitalisation at the '1st International Symposium on New Horizons in Law and Technology' held at the Nation's Library of the Presidency, organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications and the Faculty of Law of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.
We have to develop strategic solutions to address both the opportunities and threats presented by social media and artificial intelligence. Disinformation, cyberbullying, algorithmic domination, fake content and data security are among the most critical challenges we face.
As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, "We are living in an era where digital culture has upended humanity’s perspective on life, an era in which reality and simulation, perception and fact, and falsehood and truth have traded places. We can see very clearly that the products brought about by digitalisation, alongside the opportunities, convenience and comfort they offer, also objectify the human being and undermine the uniqueness of the individual." Our approach, which places people and human values at the centre of digitisation, guides our work.
We remain steadfast in our efforts to protect our children and families, the most vulnerable segments of the digital age, and to combat disinformation with determination.
With the 'Century of Türkiye' vision, we are asserting a strong presence on the global stage with our domestic and national digital platforms. Tabii and NSosyal have reached millions in a short time with their human-centred content. This is a reflection of Türkiye's vision under the leadership of President Erdoğan.
We will continue to work tirelessly to build a secure and fair communication ecosystem by increasing our domestic and national platforms, promoting digital literacy, and further strengthening our legal infrastructure because we know that a fairer world is also possible in the digital realm.
As I conclude my remarks, I hope our symposium will be auspicious, and I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed."
