Data Protection In Turkey & New Data Protection Requirements In E-Commerce

In the 21st century, thanks to the continuous technological developments, individuals, companies and governmental authorities are easily able to access an immeasurable amount of data, with a simple click. The other side of the coin is that it is technically possible to collect internet users' personal data without their consents.

Protection of personal data has a direct influence on the development of e-commerce. Individuals tend to use the internet more, if they trust that their personal data are protected and not shared with third parties. With the widespread usage of the internet and e- commerce, this situation prompted governments to adopt strict measures for the protection of personal data. In Turkey, there is no specific piece of legislation that governs the protection of personal data. In fact, data protection is a new concept in Turkish law and most people are not aware of their rights and obligations. There is a draft law on data protection (the "Draft Law").