Investigation into stock market posts: Identities of social media accounts under scrutiny

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into social media posts deemed to influence the prices of capital market instruments and investor decisions.

It was stated that the investigation, conducted by the Press Crimes Investigation Bureau within the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was opened following applications received by official authorities. The inquiry covers accounts evaluated as providing false, incorrect, or misleading information, spreading rumors, or making comments aimed at directing investors via social media.

Within the scope of the investigation, instructions have been issued to the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command to identify the real identities of the account holders who made the posts and to secure digital evidence.

In view of the applications made to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; an investigation has been launched by the Press Crimes Investigation Bureau regarding social media account holders who provide false, incorrect, or misleading information, spread rumors, report news, or make comments with the aim of influencing the prices or values of capital market instruments or the decisions of investors; as well as those who produce misleading content on social media. Instructions have been issued to the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command to identify the real identities of the suspects who made the aforementioned posts and to secure evidence.

In the work of the judicial authorities, the impact that unverified claims and manipulative content spread via social media may have on capital markets will be placed under the microscope.

The investigation is expected to proceed with further actions regarding the suspect accounts following the identification and evidence-gathering process.