A Practical Guide to KVKK Compliance: How to Meet Data Protection Requirements of Türkiye

Please note that in 2022, the country changed its name from Turkey to Türkiye. Even though the older spelling "Turkey" is still widely used and understood, the official name is Türkiye, which was adopted by the country itself and international bodies such as the UN and the U.S. State Department. Therefore, we will use the official name Türkiye in the blog below.

What Is KVKK? Overview of Türkiye’s Data Protection Law

The Kişisel Verilerin Korunması Kanunu (KVKK), or Law No. 6698 went into effect in 2016. It’s the primary data privacy legislation in Türkiye.

The law regulates the processing of personal data in the country. The KVKK defines data subject rights and outlines the obligations for controllers and processors with the aim of ensuring transparency, accountability, and individual control over Personal Information. The law establishes core principles for businesses, including purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, security, and others.

Enforced by the Turkish Data Protection Authority (KVKK Kurumu), the law applies to all entities— public and private— that handle personal data of individuals in Türkiye.

Since its introduction in 2016, KVKK has had regular updates. The 2025 KVKK amendments enhanced data subject rights and introduced stricter enforcement measures to align more closely with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Why KVKK Compliance Matters for Businesses

First, compliance with KVKK is a legal obligation. Failure to comply with the Turkish personal data Protection Law can lead to significant administrative fines and potential loss of business licenses. Penalties for serious breaches can reach millions of Turkish Lira, depending on the severity of the violation.

Second, compliance with the law increases user trust and prevents reputational harm, providing a competitive advantage.

For multinational companies, KVKK compliance is also essential for facilitating cross-border data transfers and ensuring lawful processing under both EU and Turkish laws.

Therefore, companies operating in Türkiye must comply with the KVKK to comply with the law, protect customer data from misuse or breaches, and align with international data privacy frameworks such as GDPR.

Understanding the Core Principles of Data Protection under the KVKK

Article 4 of Law No. 6698 (KVKK) establishes core principles for the processing of personal data. These principles apply to data collection, processing, and sharing, and form the basis of lawful data handling in Türkiye.

KVKK core principles include:

Lawfulness and fairness
Personal data must be handled transparently and in accordance with the law.
Purpose limitation
Personal data should only be processed for specific, explicit, and legitimate purposes.
Data minimization
Only data necessary for the purpose of processing should be collected and stored.
Accuracy
Data must be accurate, complete, and up to date.
Storage limitation
Do not retain data longer than necessary.
Security and confidentiality
Implement adequate technical and administrative measures to ensure data confidentiality and integrity.

These principles ensure that personal data is handled responsibly and transparently, set the foundation of effective KVKK compliance, and help businesses demonstrate accountability to regulators.

Consent Requirements under Türkiye’s KVKK

Turkish KVKK requires explicit consent for collecting, processing, and sharing of personal data. Special care must be taken for handling sensitive personal data of Turkish residents.

explicit consent must be:

Specific: Clearly tied to a stated purpose.
Informed: Based on clear notice of how data will be used.
Freely given: Provided voluntarily through an affirmative action.
Granular: Provide users with specific options for consenting to different types of data processing purposes.
Revocable: Allowing individuals to withdraw consent at any time.

Organizations must clearly explain what data they collect and why. Use simple language and avoid jargon. Pre-ticked checkboxes, bundled consents (e.g., “consent for all data processing activities”), or continuing scrolling without any action do not qualify as valid consent under Turkish data protection law.

Businesses must record user consent for proof of compliance.

In 2025, KVKK introduced updated consent management requirements, emphasizing digital consent tracking and user-friendly withdrawal mechanisms.

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Key Updates and Amendments in the 2025 Version

The revised Turkish Personal Data Protection Law, effective in 2025, introduced critical updates aimed at strengthening data governance and ensuring compliance with international standards.

Key updates include:

Expanded definition of personal data
Sensitive personal data now includes broader data categories, such as biometric, genetic, and location data.
Expanded data subject rights
Updates in 2025 included new rights to data portability and the right to object to automated decisions.
Data breach notification rules
Organizations now must notify the KVKK Authority and affected individuals within 72 hours of discovering a breach.
Cross-border data transfers
Revised rules introduced stricter authorization for international data transfers with defined security requirements. 2025 updates also introduced standard contractual clauses (SCCs) to facilitate international data transfers.
Increased penalties for non-compliance
2025 updates defined stricter enforcement powers and raised non-compliance fines significantly, with higher penalties linked to data breaches of sensitive data.
Mandatory Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
All businesses exceeding certain thresholds in data processing (medium and large enterprises) are required to appoint a DPO.

These amendments aim to enhance individuals’ control over their Personal Information and align the legislation with international standards of personal data processing.

Obligations for Businesses Under KVKK in 2025 and Beyond

Businesses operating in Türkiye, or processing data of Turkish citizens, must comply with the updated version of KVKK, ensuring the protection of personal data and maintaining data integrity and transparency.

Follow these obligations for updates and amendments of the KVKK:

Registering with VERBIS
Businesses must register with VERBIS the Turkish Data Controllers’ Registry.
Data Inventory Reviews
Businesses must update data inventory systems to reflect new legal standards, outlining how personal data is collected, used, and stored. Document data collection and processing purposes, data categories, and retention timelines.
Appointing a DPO
Businesses exceeding certain thresholds in data processing must appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and establish internal policies for data management.
Conducting DPIAs
Businesses are now required to conduct regular data protection impact assessments (DPIAs).
Data breach notifications
Data breach notifications must be reported to relevant authorities within 72 hours, with detailed reports on security issues and corrective actions. Businesses must implement internal policies and plans for corrective actions and breach notifications.
Cross-border transfers
Organizations must adhere to new protocols for international data transfers, such as obtaining explicit user consent.
Training employees
Companies should train employees on privacy and data handling best practices.
Implementing CMPs
Companies must implement secure consent management and cookie compliance tools to ensure compliance with updated KCKK.

CookieScript CMP delivers the right balance of compliance, affordability, and ease of use. You’ll get a fully compliant consent management tool for as little as €8 per month/ per domain for basic features or for €19 per month/ per domain for full compliance with Turkish KVKK.

Preparing for the Future of Data Privacy in Türkiye

Data protection is expected to evolve significantly in 2026 due to emerging technologies and increasing regulatory complexities. Companies must monitor regulatory guidance and get ready for stricter enforcement of global privacy laws, including Turkish KVKK.

Key trends likely to influence the data privacy trends include:

AI-powered compliance tools
Organizations are expected to adopt artificial intelligence to automate data privacy assessments and detect compliance risks efficiently.
Cross-border data collaboration
The growing reliance on international data sharing will increase enhanced transparency requirements and lawful transfer practices.
Focus on biometrics
Expanding use of biometrics will necessitate robust encryption and compliance measures to mitigate misuse and data breaches.

Steps to Prepare for KVKK 2025 and 2026: A Compliance Roadmap

Businesses should begin their KVKK compliance roadmap today by performing these key compliance steps:

Understand revised regulations
Review the KVKK 2025 updates, focusing on new rules and obligations.
Assess current compliance status
Review current data protection policies and identify gaps that should be updated.
Update consent and privacy policies
Align consent and privacy policies with 2025 KVKK updates.
Implement data mapping
Understand data flows and categorization of data to take proactive safeguards.
Conduct DPIAs
Regularly performing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) helps identify and mitigate risks associated with processing personal data.
Review consent mechanisms
Review consent collection processes to verify compliance with revised explicit consent standards.
Enhance technical safeguards
Implement robust technical (encryption, access controls), organizational (policies, training), and procedural (incident response) security measures to protect data.
Audit third-party agreements
Review contracts with data processors and ensure partner compliance with updated KVKK obligations.
Train employees
Regularly train employees on the latest compliance obligations and data handling practices.
Monitor regulatory guidance
Stay updated with KVKK Authority announcements and enforcement trends to adjust practices proactively.
Implement a Consent Management Platform (CMP)
Implement a CMP to deliver cookie notices and obtain explicit, granular Cookie Consent, create a Privacy Policy, and respect user consent choices.

CookieScript CMP is a professional CMP that has all required functionalities for the KVKK compliance:

In Spring 2025, CookieScript received its fourth consecutive G2 badge as the Best Consent Management Platform.

The platform is also recognized as a Google-certified CMP in the Gold tier, highlighting its compliance with privacy and the latest consent management requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key updates of Turkish KVKK in 2025?

The 2025 KVKK amendments introduce several important changes, including new data subject rights (like portability and restriction of processing), mandatory DPO appointments for medium and large companies, stronger breach notification obligations (within 72 hours), updated cross-border data transfer mechanisms, and higher fines with stricter enforcement by the Turkish Data Protection Authority. Use CookieScript CMP to comply with the amended KVKK.

What are the consent requirements under the 2025 KVKK?

Turkish KVKK requires explicit consent for collecting, processing, and sharing of personal data. explicit consent must be specific, informed, freely given, granular (allowing users to consent to different types of data processing purposes), and revocable (allowing users to withdraw consent at any time). Clearly explain what data you collect and why. Updates in 2025 also require businesses to provide digital consent management options, allowing users to easily track and revoke their consent, particularly for marketing, cookies, and online data collection.

What steps should businesses take to comply with KVKK 2025 amendments?

To achieve KVKK compliance, businesses should understand revised regulations, assess current compliance status, update consent and privacy policies, implement data mapping, conduct DPIAs, review consent mechanisms, enhance technical safeguards, audit third-party agreements, regularly train employees, monitor regulatory guidance, and implement a Consent Management Platform (CMP) like CookieScript.

What are the core principles of data protection under the Turkish KVKK?

Article 4 of Law No. 6698 (KVKK) establishes the core principles for the processing of personal data of individuals in Türkiye, including lawfulness and fairness, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, and security and confidentiality. These principles ensure that personal data is handled responsibly and transparently. Use CookieScript CMP to obtain valid user consent under KVKK.

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