Digital Ads Ban starts for Social Media Networks in Turkey
The Law amending the Law on the Protection of Internet Broadcasts and Fighting Crimes Perpetrated by these Publications, which entered into force on 1 October 2020, was published in the Official Gazette for providers of social networks who have not or could not appoint representatives officially to reside in Turkey.
Deputy of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Ömer Fatih Sayan stated in his post on Twitter, “Social media companies of foreign origin that do not appoint official representatives will no longer receive advertisement payments from our country”.
An advertising ban that covers whole digital marketing practices is in place for providers of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter that have not yet opened a local representative office in Turkey.
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have been informed that the advertisement ban deadline has expired on 19 January, with a fine of 40 million Turkish Lira each. If the social network providers plan to open a representative office, even after approximately 5 months, 75 percent of the fines levied before that date will be reduced.
What happens next?
Social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, have been required to designate at least one natural or juridical representative in Turkey and have been obliged to provide hosting in Turkey.
- If businesses do not appoint representatives, in April 2021 the bandwidth will be decreased by half and in May 2021 by 90%.
- Youtube, Dailymotion, Linkedin, VK, TikTok, and finally Facebook have announced today that they will designate representatives.
- Firms that are yet to appoint representatives are Twitter, Periscope, and Pinterest.
In this sense, companies and individuals who are taxpayers in Turkey would be prohibited from advertising on platforms that do not have a representative office, i.e., who are not subjected to pay tax in Turkey, with the release of this banning decision.
No commercial arrangements with these websites can be made with the advertising ban and these sites will not be paid for social media ads.
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