30.04.2026 02:00
Prof. Dr. Nazım Elmas, Chairman of the Turkish Parliament's Digital Platforms Commission, signaled new legal regulations targeting "unregistered" journalism activities conducted on social media. Stating that standards, taxes, and copyrights in digital broadcasting will be made mandatory, Elmas emphasized that accounts generating commercial profit but lacking institutional registration could face severe sanctions. "If there is unregistered activity, there is lawlessness," Elmas said, announcing that content theft would be prevented.
Prof. Dr. Nazım Elmas, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Digital Media Commission and AK Party Giresun Deputy, gave clear messages to those who share news on social media without being journalists and generate income through this method. Chairman Elmas stated, "If there is unregistered activity, there is lawlessness," indicating that this issue will also be addressed in new legislative efforts.
The uncontrolled growth of digital media and "unregistered" journalistic activities conducted through social media platforms are among the topics on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Digital Media Commission. Prof. Dr. Nazım Elmas, Chairman of the Commission and AK Party Giresun Deputy, made important statements regarding publishing standards, copyrights, and legal responsibilities in the digital world.
"EVERYONE CAN SHARE, BUT STANDARDS ARE REQUIRED" Current issues related to the journalism profession were discussed during a visit by TİGAD – Internet Journalism General Vice President, Media Ankara Editor-in-Chief Bayram Polat, and World Türk TV Editor-in-Chief Adem Erdağı to Nazım Elmas, Chairman of the Digital Media Commission at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Commission Chairman Nazım Elmas emphasized that the interest in journalism is pleasing, but this field cannot remain an area of "amateurism" or "arbitrariness." Elmas stated that the way to be permanent in the digital world is through principled publishing and technological adaptation, using the following expressions: "It should be known that those who try to stand out through some publications for daily whims cannot stay at that level for long. Certainly, a standard needs to be introduced in this regard."
WARNING OF "PENALTIES" AND "HARDSHIPS" FOR UNREGISTERED PUBLISHING Drawing attention to social media accounts that generate commercial income but have no institutional registration, Elmas reminded that every monetary transaction must have a counterpart in the eyes of the state. Stating that if a commercial activity is conducted through a website or social media account, it must be linked to the tax office, Elmas warned that those engaging in unregistered publishing could face severe penal sanctions.
CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW ERA IN DIGITAL PUBLISHING Nazım Elmas summarized the cornerstones of the planned new regulation in digital journalism with the following headings:
Priority of Registration and Discipline: Elmas stated that wherever there is unregistered activity, lawlessness will prevail, and all digital publications need to be registered and disciplined.
Economic Interest and Tax: If any income is generated from digital platforms, copyright and tax law must come into play. "Every job has a counterpart in the eyes of the state," said Elmas, emphasizing that monetary movements will be audited.
Content Rights and Copyright: Stating that the effort of the first producer of news must be protected, Elmas explained that using someone else's content without permission for personal profit is unethical, and the digital copyright law will put an end to this labor theft.
Legal Commitment and Responsibility: Publishers will not only share content but also need to assume certain legal responsibilities. Standard frameworks will be introduced for publishers to establish legal accountability.
"LEGAL REGULATIONS ARE ON THE WAY" Nazım Elmas stated that efforts for legal regulation continue to protect society's right to access quality and accurate information. "Where there is order, there is success," said Elmas, underlining that those who wish to engage in publishing in the digital field will be required to meet certain standards and enter into a "commitment."
These statements were interpreted as the end of the road for accounts that uncontrollably share news on social media and turn this into commerce outside the legal framework.
Chairman Elmas expressed the following in his evaluations:
"It is a good thing that people are enthusiastic about making shares related to journalism. It means it's a field that everyone is eager about, wants to do. It is actually a good profession. It is quite natural for everyone to be interested in this profession. But at the beginning, there may be amateurism. However, in the developing technological environment and the many platforms offered, if a person wants to improve themselves in this field, many associations—I mean journalism associations—organize courses. Many NGOs, certificate programs, universities, communication faculties, and other relevant professional organizations provide support programs for those who want to develop themselves in this area. By participating in these support programs and improving themselves, they can be much more successful in that profession. Regarding who stays and who leaves in this business; those who are principled, put in effort, use the possibilities of technology in the best way, want to do new and good things, and are consistent will be permanent. It should be known that those who try to stand out through some publications for daily whims cannot stay at that level for long. Certainly, a standard needs to be introduced in this regard."
"IF THERE IS NON-REGISTRATION, THERE IS LAWLESSNESS" Elmas drew attention to the issue of commercial activity and registration, continuing his speech as follows:
"Particularly in the commercial field, if a person has established a site, it has a connection with a tax office. If there is any monetary movement somewhere, it must have a record. There may be people who later claim 'I was victimized, I received such a fine.' Therefore, every financial matter has a counterpart in the eyes of the state. There are relevant offices. One needs to apply to those offices. Again, every effort has a return. Let's say you use something you did not produce yourself on behalf of someone else. In that case, there is a price that must be given to the first producer. We call this copyright."
"DIGITAL COPYRIGHT WILL CLOSE THE GAP" Nazım Elmas emphasized the importance of digital copyright, using the following statements:
"If you do not produce something yourself, it is clearly known that using something produced by someone else to obtain certain economic benefits as if you produced it is not an appropriate or ethical behavior. Studies related to digital copyright partially involve an effort to close the gap in this area."
"EVERYONE CAN PUBLISH, BUT THERE MUST BE STANDARDS" Elmas drew attention to the importance of quality and order in digital publishing, stating:
"Let everyone make their publications according to their ability, establish their sites."