Turkey - AI Research Commission (No. 1426/2024)

Overview

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) adopted Decision No. 1426 on 02 October 2024 to create a Meclis Research Commission focused on Artificial Intelligence. The act — published in the Resmî Gazete (Issue 32683) on 05 October 2024 — tasks a 22‑member commission with identifying steps to maximize AI benefits, proposing the necessary legal architecture for AI in Turkey, and recommending measures to prevent risks associated with AI deployment. The commission is authorized under the Constitution (Art. 98) and TBMM internal rules (İçtüzük Arts. 104 and 105) to summon ministries and public bodies, take evidence, inspect documents and work outside Ankara when necessary. For the official publication see T.C. Resmî Gazete and for parliamentary proceedings see the TBMM session records available from the TBMM transcript service (TBMM Tutanak — debate excerpts).

Definitions

This decision uses the term "Meclis araştırması" (parliamentary research inquiry/commission) consistent with TBMM practice: a temporary, fact‑finding, multi‑party committee established to examine a topic and report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. "Artificial Intelligence" (Yapay Zeka) is treated in policy terms to encompass machine learning, deep learning, algorithmic decision‑making, autonomous systems, and related data processing and inference technologies. "Legal infrastructure" refers broadly to laws, secondary legislation, enforcement arrangements, sectoral supervisory rules, and technical standards recommended by the commission.

Governance and Institutional Framework

The commission is established pursuant to the Constitution (Art. 98) and TBMM Internal Rules (İçtüzük Arts. 104–105). It is composed of 22 members and will select a president, vice‑president, spokesman and clerk; its working period is three months from officer selection and may be extended by the General Assembly. The commission is empowered to hold hearings, summon ministers and officials, request documents and confidential briefings, and coordinate site visits outside Ankara. It operates as a parliamentary oversight and policy design instrument; it does not itself issue binding regulations but its report may form the basis of future legislation and delegated rulemaking. See the official parliamentary session record for procedural detail: TBMM Tutanak (session record).

Key Focus Areas

The decision sets a broad, multi‑dimensional mandate. Anticipated focus areas (explicit or inferred from the decision’s purpose) include: (1) mapping AI uses across sectors—public administration, healthcare, finance, industry, education and security; (2) identifying legal gaps and proposing a national legal framework covering data governance, liability, transparency, fairness and contestability; (3) evaluating privacy and personal data protection implications and interface with KVKK (Personal Data Protection Authority); (4) assessing risks to fundamental rights and democratic processes (disinformation, algorithmic discrimination); (5) analyzing cybersecurity and model security risks; (6) reviewing conformity, certification and market surveillance needs for AI‑enabled products and services; (7) proposing institutional responsibilities between ministries and regulators; (8) identifying workforce, education and economic policy steps to capture AI’s benefits; and (9) aligning Turkey’s approach with international norms and standards. The commission’s cross‑sectoral nature means it is positioned to coordinate inputs from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Ministry of Health, Treasury and Finance, BTK, KVKK and other bodies.

Implementation Framework

Practically, the commission will carry out a program of hearings, expert briefings, sectoral consultations and written evidence collection. TBMM practice allows the commission to invite ministers, institutional heads and private stakeholders, issue formal document requests and hold public or closed sessions. The working methodology commonly used by TBMM commissions includes: initial scoping; sectoral fact‑finding missions; targeted technical working groups; draft recommendation development; and final reporting with legislative proposals. The commission’s output is expected to be a comprehensive report containing findings, proposed legal texts or amendments, recommended institutional roles, and an implementation roadmap. It may recommend that TBMM committees or the Government prepare specific draft laws or regulatory initiatives.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The decision itself does not create a permanent oversight body but the commission’s report can recommend monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, such as periodic parliamentary reviews, standing parliamentary committees with AI mandates, or reporting obligations for executive agencies. Recommended metrics likely include: compliance with data protection rules, incidence of algorithmic harms, sectoral adoption rates of certified AI systems, and impact on employment and services. TBMM can request periodic follow‑up briefings from ministries and regulators to track progress on commission recommendations.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

The TBMM decision establishes a research body and does not itself set administrative or criminal penalties for AI uses. Instead, it is expected to examine liability frameworks and recommend whether civil, administrative or criminal sanctions should apply for specific harms (e.g., safety failures, privacy breaches, discrimination). The commission may propose mechanisms for redress (complaint channels, sectoral ombudsmen, expedited court or administrative review) and suggest appeals procedures tied to recommended regulatory regimes. Any concrete penalties would require implementation through subsequent legislation or regulatory rulemaking.

Relationship to Other Instruments

The commission’s work complements and informs existing legal instruments: Turkey’s Constitution and TBMM Internal Rules (procedural basis), sectoral laws (e.g., Healthcare Law, Banking Law), the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK No. 6698), and statutes governing consumer protection and cyber security. The commission is positioned to recommend amendments to sectoral legislation or to advise the Government on new draft laws. It may also coordinate with regulatory authorities (BTK, KVKK, banking and health regulators) to design conformity assessment and market surveillance regimes for AI systems.

International Alignment

Part of the commission’s mandate is to propose a legal architecture aligned with global developments. Key reference points will include the European Union’s AI Act framework, OECD AI principles, Council of Europe guidance on human rights and AI, and standards from ISO/IEC. The commission can assess alignment options—whether to mirror EU terminology and risk categories, adapt OECD high‑level principles to local law, or propose bespoke approaches compatible with international trade and cooperation. International alignment also covers cross‑border data flows, mutual recognition of conformity assessment and cooperation on cyber incident response.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References