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KVKK

Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698

In force privacy
WhenIn effect since 7 April 2016
Who enforces itPersonal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) and Personal Data Protection Board
Who it applies toNatural and legal persons that process personal data of natural persons wholly or partly by automated means, or non-automated means forming part of a filing system.

36 sections indexed, 13 with our notes. Our index and notes; the law itself is at its source: official text ↗

Chapter One Purpose, Scope and Definitions

Article 2

Scope

2
Reach abroad. The law is silent on territory, but the Board requires foreign controllers processing data of people in Turkey to register in VERBIS through a local representative. Art. 2 (scope); Art. 16 and Regulation on the Data Controllers' Registry (foreign controller representative) · from a secondary source
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Chapter Two Processing of Personal Data

Article 6

Conditions for processing special categories of personal data

2
Sensitive data. Processing special categories, including appearance, clothing and association membership, is prohibited unless an Art. 6(3) exception applies, such as explicit consent, law or employment obligations. Board-set measures are required. Art. 6(1), 6(3)(a)-(g), 6(4); Board Decision 2018/10
2
Sensitive data. Processing special categories, including appearance, clothing and association membership, is prohibited unless an Art. 6(3) exception applies, such as explicit consent, law or employment obligations. Board-set measures are required. Art. 6(1), 6(3)(a)-(g), 6(4); Board Decision 2018/10
2
Sensitive data. Processing special categories, including appearance, clothing and association membership, is prohibited unless an Art. 6(3) exception applies, such as explicit consent, law or employment obligations. Board-set measures are required. Art. 6(1), 6(3)(a)-(g), 6(4); Board Decision 2018/10
2
Marketing. Commercial electronic messages need prior opt-in consent recorded in the national IYS system; opt-outs must be honored within 3 business days. Law No. 6563 on Electronic Commerce, Art. 6; Regulation on Commercial Communication · from a secondary source
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Article 7

Erasure, destruction or anonymization of personal data

2
Retention. Erase, destroy or anonymize data once processing grounds end; registered controllers need a retention policy and periodic destruction at least every six months. Art. 7; Regulation on Erasure, Destruction or Anonymization (OG No. 30224, 2017) · from a secondary source
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Article 9

Transfer of personal data abroad

2
Transfers abroad. Needs a Board adequacy decision; else Board-approved BCRs or undertakings, or a Board standard contract filed within five business days. Incidental transfers allowed on listed grounds. Art. 9(1)-(6) as amended by Law No. 7499; Transfer Regulation (OG No. 32598, 10 July 2024)
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Chapter Three Rights and Obligations

Article 11

Rights of the data subject

2
Rights. Learn whether data is processed and get information (access), rectification, erasure, notice to third-party recipients, objection to solely automated outcomes, and compensation. Art. 11(1)
2
Private action. Data subjects can claim compensation in civil courts for damage from unlawful processing; complaints to the Board come after a request to the controller. Art. 11(1)(ğ); Art. 14
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Article 12

Obligations concerning data security

2
Tell the regulator. Notify the Board as soon as possible, interpreted by the Board as within 72 hours of discovery, with no risk threshold. Art. 12(5); Board Decision 2019/10
3
Tell people. Notify affected data subjects as soon as possible after every breach, with no risk threshold. Art. 12(5); Board Decision 2019/10
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Chapter Four Request, Complaint and Data Controllers' Registry

Article 16

Data Controllers' Registry

2
Registration. Controllers must register in VERBIS before processing, unless exempt (under 50 employees and under TRY 100m balance sheet, or under 10 and TRY 10m if mainly sensitive data). Art. 16; Board exemption decision published in Official Gazette No. 33034 (1 Oct 2025)
3
Records. Controllers must keep a personal data processing inventory and file its contents in the public VERBIS registry, plus keep a retention and destruction policy. Art. 16(2); Regulation on the Data Controllers' Registry · from a secondary source
Open article 16 in the official text ↗

Chapter Five Crimes and Misdemeanors

Chapter Six The Personal Data Protection Authority and its Organization

Chapter Seven Miscellaneous

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This index, the topic tags and the notes are ours, scored on the published rubric. Headings marked "our heading" are our descriptions where the source has none. Always read the official text before acting. Not legal advice.

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