In August 2021, Turkey published its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2021-2025. The strategy is built on six strategic priorities: training AI experts and increasing employment in the domain; supporting research, entrepreneurship and innovation; facilitating access to quality data and technical infrastructure; regulating to accelerate socioeconomic adaptation; strengthening international cooperation; and accelerating structural and labor transformation.
The strategy emphasises AI values and principles including respect for human rights, democracy, rule of law, diversity and inclusiveness, and living in peaceful, just and interconnected societies. This approach aligns with Turkey's commitment to human-centric AI development, as stated by Ali Taha Koç, the President of the Digital Transformation Office, who stressed the importance of transparency, security, and accountability in AI systems.
Turkey's data protection framework is based on the Law on the Protection of Personal Data, enacted in 2016. However, this law is only partly proclaimed and lacks some modern data protection provisions. To address AI-specific concerns, the Turkish Data Protection Authority (DPA) issued Recommendations on the Protection of Personal Data in the Field of Artificial Intelligence in September 2021. These recommendations emphasize principles such as lawfulness, fairness, proportionality, accountability, and transparency in AI systems.
While the National AI Strategy mentions transparency and explainability as key principles, Turkey has not yet signed the protocol modernising Convention 108, which enshrines the right to algorithmic transparency. The current Law on the Protection of Personal Data does not include specific provisions on algorithmic transparency.
However, recent amendments to the Internet Law require social network providers with over one million daily visits from Turkey to submit biannual reports on their algorithms, advertising policies, and transparency policies. They must also disclose the parameters used for content recommendations and offer users options to limit the use of their personal data.
Turkey has launched several AI projects in the public sector, including initiatives in fraud detection, voice transcription, image recognition, and chatbots. The country has also established programmes to support AI startups and promote entrepreneurship in the digital sector.
Turkey's Open Data Project, launched under the coordination of the Digital Transformation Office, aims to establish an open data portal to make public data available as open data under privacy principles. This initiative is intended to increase transparency, accountability, and participation, while enabling the production of new value-added services and fostering a digital ecosystem for AI.
A 2022 Human Rights Watch report raised concerns about the use of education technology (EdTech) in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlighted that some EdTech products endorsed by the government potentially violated children's rights by collecting and processing their data for advertising purposes without adequate protection.
Turkey has adopted the OECD AI Principles and is an active member of the OECD Network of Experts on Artificial Intelligence. The country endorsed the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI in 2021 and participated in the first AI Safety Summit in 2023, endorsing the Bletchley Declaration. Turkey's application for membership to the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) was approved in November 2022, further expanding its international AI cooperation.
However, these positive steps in international cooperation are contrasted by domestic human rights concerns. According to Freedom House, Türkiye is classified as "not free," receiving low scores for political rights and civil liberties. There are concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and the government's transparency in providing information on state activities.
A significant area of concern is Türkiye's role as a developer and exporter of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). While the country has participated in international discussions on autonomous weapons systems and endorsed calls for responsible AI use in the military domain, its development of such technologies raises ethical concerns. This dual position of advocating for responsible AI use while being a major producer of autonomous weapons systems presents a complex challenge for Türkiye's AI ethics stance.
Türkiye has made notable progress in developing its AI strategy with a focus on human-centric principles. The country's National AI Strategy, Open Data Project, and participation in international AI ethics initiatives demonstrate a commitment to responsible AI development. However, significant challenges remain in fully implementing data protection measures, ensuring algorithmic transparency, and addressing human rights concerns.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/