New details emerge in 'panel' operation targeting lawyers: How personal data was accessed

As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an operation was carried out following allegations that illegal data query panels were being used in certain law firms. During the investigation, searches were conducted at 29 law firms, and 31 suspects, including 24 lawyers and 7 civilian personnel, were detained.

It was reported that efforts are ongoing to apprehend 16 lawyers for whom arrest warrants have been issued. The investigation is being conducted under charges of unlawful acquisition of personal data and violation of the Cyber Security Law.

DIGITAL MATERIALS EXAMINED

According to a report by Türkiye Gazetesi, panel access logs, verification codes, remote connection traces, and data query outputs were found in the digital materials seized from the suspects during the earlier stages of the investigation. The examinations alleged that sensitive information such as identity, address, social security (SGK), and land registry records were accessed through illegal systems named HukukBİS and AsistBİS.

It is alleged that these panels were sold to certain law firms for a fee and provided via a subscription system. It was noted that the systems, which were accessed using security applications, were managed from the offices, and that personal information belonging to citizens was queried in this manner.

"YOUR DEBT HAS ENTERED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS"

The investigation is also looking into allegations that some firms targeted citizens with whom they had no legal relationship after obtaining their information, using fake debt and foreclosure notifications. It was determined that citizens were contacted with false statements such as "your debt has entered legal proceedings," "foreclosure proceedings have been initiated against you," or "a crime has been attributed to you."

News Source: 12punto