Türkiye stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. A vibrant, fast-growing market with a dynamic regulatory landscape. For international companies seeking to operate or expand here, understanding and complying with Turkish data protection and cybersecurity laws is essential to building trust and ensuring sustainable growth.
The cornerstone of Türkiye’s data protection regime is the Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (DP Law), in force since 2016 and recently updated in 2024 to modernize the rules for special category data and international data transfers. The DP Law applies to all entities processing personal data of individuals residing in Türkiye, regardless of where the company is established.
Supervised by the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK), enforcement is increasingly rigorous. Administrative fines can reach up to TRY 13.6 million in 2025, and criminal liability may arise in severe cases. Additionally, security measures such as license cancellation and confiscation of illegal gains may be imposed on companies. It is also possible to claim pecuniary and non-pecuniary (moral) compensation under the DP Law.
In parallel, Türkiye’s new Cyber Security Law No. 7545 introduces obligations for operators of critical infrastructure and businesses active in “cyberspace”, reflecting the global move toward stronger cybersecurity resilience inspired by the EU’s NIS2 Directive.
Years of experience
Employees
Clients
Our Expertise
At FIRST PRIVACY, we combine local insight with global experience to help businesses unlock the Turkish market while maintaining full compliance with the DP Law, the Cyber Security Law, and related sectoral rules. Our team of local and international experts advises multinational groups and Turkish subsidiaries on practical, business-oriented privacy and cybersecurity strategies.
Our Services
FIRST PRIVACY empowers organizations by delivering comprehensive expertise and practical skills to safeguard privacy, protect data, meet compliance requirements, and uphold information security.
Gap Analysis
We assess how your organization’s data processing aligns with the DP Law, KVKK guidelines, and cybersecurity standards. Through detailed interviews and process mapping, we identify risks and provide pragmatic, sector-specific recommendations.
Supporting Your Implementation
Upon establishing the risks, we want to enable our clients to operate compliantly within the ecosystem of the DP Law, either in your obligations as data controllers or data processors.
We support clients through:
Mapping and auditing all data flows within Türkiye and across borders;
Creation and maintenance of records of processing activities and including registration to or maintenance of VERBIS (Turkish data controller’s registry);
Drafting and updating consent forms, privacy notices, and contracts;
Advising on international data transfer mechanisms and cross-border processing;
Supporting communications with the KVKK;
- Trainings, including on handling data principal requests and data breaches;
Monitoring compliance, assisting with the handling of data breaches, data subjects’ rights requests and advising on updates as legal interpretations evolve.
Contact Person
If your operations involve processing personal data of individuals in Türkiye, or if you plan to enter this market, FIRST PRIVACY can guide you toward a compliant, trustworthy, and resilient data governance framework.
Niki Lal Gormezano, LL.M., Lawyer
Senior Privacy Counsel
Email: ngormezano@re-move-this.first-privacy.com
Phone: +31 20 211 79 76
FIRST PRIVACY B.V., Amsterdam
Niki is a Türkiye qualified lawyer, admitted to the Istanbul Bar Association, with more than six years of experience working with multi-national corporations in Türkiye, UK and the Netherlands. She studied law at Koc University in Türkiye and completed the Master Information Technologies and Communications Law from the London School of Economics in the UK.
At FIRST PRIVACY (Amsterdam) Niki advises clients across the globe and in Türkiye on data regulation and data protection.
Languages: English, Turkish.
