05.11.2025 15:48
In the investigation launched regarding the allegation of "data leakage" against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, it was claimed that the then Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya stated, "There is no vulnerability." Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, denying reports in some media outlets, said, "What those who raise baseless allegations are doing is nothing but a despicable perception operation."
The claim that there is a decision stating "no action is required due to the absence of a vulnerability" in the investigation into the data leak concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which bears the signature of the then Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, has caused public outrage.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who denied the news reported by some media outlets, stated, "What those who raise baseless claims have done is nothing but a despicable perception operation."
ATTENTION-GRABBING STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YERLİKAYA
In a statement made from Minister Yerlikaya's X account, the following expressions were included; "It has become necessary to enlighten the public with TRUE INFORMATION regarding the news stating 'Ali Yerlikaya said there is no vulnerability' that has appeared in some media outlets and social media."
To clarify; - On September 9, 2020, a protocol was signed between the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Information Technology Department and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) regarding "the development of Istanbul's Traffic Planning Management and Operation Software." Under this protocol, it was stated that the U.S. Trade and Development Agency would provide a grant of 5 million 117 thousand 887 dollars to the IMM.
- On September 15, 2020, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Information Technology Department entered into an agreement with a U.S.-based company named SAS for the development of the relevant software.
"COULD POSE A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE"
- After the agreement was made public, a citizen named G.K. filed a complaint on September 24, 2020, stating in a recorded call that "the same software processes could be carried out by other companies at a lower cost, and that having the process done by a foreign software company could pose a national security issue regarding data management."
- A similar complaint was also made by the New Generation Taxi Drivers Cooperative to the Istanbul Police Department, claiming that the process violated the presidential circular numbered 2019/12 on "Presidential Information and Communication Security Measures."
"THE COMPLAINT CAME TO THE GOVERNORATE THROUGH CIMER"
- A complaint regarding the same issue was also submitted to the Istanbul Governorship through a CIMER application numbered 2004292886 dated September 26, 2020.
- On January 25, 2021, a letter was sent by the then Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya to the Ministry of Interior, requesting the assignment of a Civil Inspector to investigate or inquire into the allegations.
- In a letter dated December 14, 2021, the Ministry of Interior referred the allegations to the Civil Inspection Board for "RESEARCH" purposes, not for investigation.
- The assigned Civil Inspectors prepared a 37-page report on April 29, 2022.
"THE DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE ALLEGATIONS"
- In this report, it was stated that the allegations were examined one by one; it was found that there was no violation of the law in the expenditure of the grant and in having the work done by the U.S.-based SAS company, that no violation of the "Presidential Information and Communication Security Measures" circular was detected, and that "no action is required" regarding the matter.
- In a letter sent by the Ministry of Interior to the Istanbul Governorship dated June 7, 2022, it was instructed that the REPORT BE IMPLEMENTED.
- In line with this letter from the Ministry of Interior, the Istanbul Governorship decided not to PROCEED WITH the allegations in a letter dated June 23, 2022.
"What those who raise baseless claims regarding the news stating 'Ali Yerlikaya said there is no vulnerability' have done is nothing but a DESPICABLE PERCEPTION operation."