“What people in Turkey do on the Internet is sent to the BTK”

While the security of our personal information on the internet continues to be a matter of debate all over the world, a striking claim has been made about Turkey today. According to the news, the file published by Medyascope Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK)was receiving information such as the websites you visited, the people you texted or called on WhatsApp, and your location data from internet providers every hour.

According to the confidential document dated December 15, 2020, which Medyascope claimed to have seized, BTK is one of the internet service providers. Internet traffic logs of all users to be sent to him every hour demanded. In another document, it was explained which information would be sent to the BTK and in what format.

What information did BTK want from internet service providers?

Based on Medyascope’s document history estimated to last about 1.5 years The information flow to BTK included the following information of each citizen:

• Name and surname of the subscriber (if it is a legal entity, the official name),
• The IP number that the subscriber is currently using,
• With which application or website it exchanges data,
• The start date and time of the relevant data exchange, how long the data exchange takes,
• How much data it receives and how much data it sends

On the other hand, traffic data does not include the content of emails, WhatsApp messages or messages sent from other applications. One of the points that made the claim about BTK striking was that the subscribers requested the information directly with their name and surname, not anonymously.

So why does BTK request this information?

According to the document allegedly seized, ICTA has not disclosed the said data in relation to the activities on the internet.in judicial and preventive scope‘ he demanded on the grounds that more detailed information was needed. However, it is not clear what the data will be used for.

BTK requested a ‘subscriber pattern’ for internet subscribers in 2018:

On 4 December 2018, the BTK obtained information from operators, including personal information of internet users. subscriber files He wanted it to be shared with him. This information included the subscriber’s name-surname, gender, TR identity card, passport, tax and MERSIS numbers, mother and father and mother’s maiden name, occupation, place and date of birth, address and old mobile phone number.

No statement yet from BTK or service providers:

BTK or its service providers have not yet shared a statement about the documents Medyascope claims to have seized. Subject last month CHP Deputy Chairman Honorary Adıgüzel It was brought up on social media, but no official statement was made about it: