CHP Minister calls on Minister Yerlikaya to resign: 'It's not about holding rallies here and there...'

CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for the Ministry of Interior, Murat Bakan, has called on Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya to resign on the grounds that citizens' personal data is not being protected.

The CHP Minister stated the following:

"TERRORISTS CAN EVEN FIND OUT CITIZENS' SHOE SIZES"

“Right now, in the hands of the world's intelligence agencies, in the hands of terrorist organizations—meaning a PKK, FETÖ, or ISIS terrorist—can even find out our citizens' shoe sizes by paying 150 TL a week. Previously, we were the ones who knew the terrorists' shoe sizes... Now, terrorists can find out the shoe sizes of Republic of Turkey citizens over the internet.”

"IT'S NOT ABOUT HOLDING RALLIES HERE AND THERE..."

Addressing Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, the Minister said, “Yesterday it was Süleyman Soylu, today it is you. If you have an ounce of statesmanship, you will take responsibility for this and resign. A Minister of Interior's job is not to hold rallies here and there, but to protect citizens' identity information and personal data.”

"THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IS ALİ YERLİKAYA"

Stating that "You can access all kinds of personal data of Republic of Turkey citizens over the internet," the Minister said:

"It is not just information that the citizen can access themselves via e-Devlet; you are accessing information that even the citizens themselves do not know. I am talking about websites where you can access all kinds of data, including health records, education records, marriage information, and even location data—not just citizenship numbers. We submitted a parliamentary question regarding this in December 2022 to the then-Minister of Interior, Süleyman Soylu. At that time, in response to my question, Soylu's Deputy Minister Mehmet Ersoy held a press conference and claimed that I was creating disinformation and that he would file a criminal complaint. Of course, they did not file such a criminal complaint. But they also did not conduct any investigation into this. Right now, in the hands of the world's intelligence agencies, in the hands of terrorist organizations—meaning a PKK, FETÖ, or ISIS terrorist—can even find out our citizens' shoe sizes by paying 150 TL a week. Previously, we were the ones who knew the terrorists' shoe sizes... Now, terrorists can find out the shoe sizes of Republic of Turkey citizens over the internet.

The consequences that this security vulnerability could create are a major risk not only for citizens but also for the country's security forces. You are making it possible to access all kinds of personal data of any security officer through queries made using phone numbers obtained from applications like WhatsApp and Telegram. So, who is responsible for this? The Minister of Interior who should be responsible is Ali Yerlikaya. What is Ali Yerlikaya doing? Instead of dealing with the state's security, he is holding rallies in Elazığ, in Palu, here and there, doing election work. I am calling out to Ali Yerlikaya from here: Yesterday it was Süleyman Soylu, today it is you. If you have an ounce of statesmanship, you will take responsibility for this and resign. A Minister of Interior's job is not to hold rallies here and there, but to protect citizens' identity information and personal data."

6 QUESTIONS FOR YERLİKAYA

The CHP Minister, who also brought the issue to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), directed the following questions to Ali Yerlikaya in his written motion:

1 - "Considering that this poses a serious threat to many people and professional groups, from public figures such as members of parliament, politicians, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders, to security personnel fighting against crime and criminals such as the PKK, ISIS, FETÖ terrorist organizations, and organized crime groups; and considering that this data is easily accessible to terrorist organizations and international intelligence agencies, and most importantly, assuming that the data was not stolen via a cyberattack from a closed-circuit intranet system, and considering the possibility that the thief might be inside the closed-circuit system; what concrete steps have been taken regarding the issue, and which systems have been checked by whom and how? Has a service procurement been made for this? Or did the relevant institution officials check it?

2- Given the statement by the then-Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu that “We even know the shoe sizes of terrorists” and the fact that “shoe size query” is offered as a ‘service’ within the personal data offered for sale on the internet; how do you explain the serious security vulnerability regarding those working in counter-terrorism and the programs used in this field? Specifically and urgently, what will your Ministry do to ensure security in this regard?

3- How have intimate information that should only be in the hands of the state and that only the citizen themselves can access within the scope of personal data security been put up for sale through certain applications and websites? How do you explain this?

4- Has any work been carried out to identify those who have developed themselves to the point of professionalizing in the sale of personal data on the internet and who have turned this serious issue regarding security vulnerability into a ‘sector’? If it has been carried out, what are the details? If it has not been carried out, what is the reason?

5- Has any work been carried out to identify who is purchasing this information on the internet? If it has been carried out, what are the details? If it has not been carried out, what is the reason?

6- It is evident that all personal data of citizens sold over the internet, including photographs, were obtained from ministries, primarily your ministry, as well as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of National Education, and that there is a serious data security vulnerability. Is your Ministry conducting a study in coordination with all ministries to ensure data security? If it is, what are the details? If it is not, what is the reason?"