Turkey Launches Cybersecurity Directorate to Address Cyber Threats
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Ankara, Jan 8 (NationPress) Turkey has officially launched a new Cybersecurity Directorate aimed at bolstering its defenses against the rising tide of cyber threats, as announced in a presidential decree made public in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.
This newly established agency will take on the responsibility of executing decisions ratified by the Cybersecurity Board, which will be led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The board's composition will also feature essential ministries, including those of interior, justice, defence, transport, and infrastructure, in addition to industry and technology.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz indicated that the directorate is tasked with formulating policies, strategies, and objectives centered on cybersecurity, developing action plans, and executing projects aimed at enhancing both cybersecurity and information security.
Moreover, the vice president emphasized that the directorate will work to improve collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and academic institutions.
In 2024, the Turkish government unveiled a cybersecurity roadmap designed to fortify the nation’s information infrastructure and elevate its readiness against cyber threats.
In October, Turkish authorities apprehended nine individuals who were allegedly connected to an international cyber-espionage syndicate.
These individuals were reportedly involved in cyber espionage and were selling stolen personal data to various buyers, including terrorist organizations, via social media platforms, as reported by Xinhua citing the semi-official Anadolu Agency.
The organized crime factions were thought to be exploiting stolen data for blackmailing citizens, particularly targeting young individuals and children, the report stated.
According to Anadolu, Turkish authorities have closed down 18 websites that were engaged in the sale of such illicit information.
The arrest operation was orchestrated by the intelligence agency, in collaboration with the Gendarmerie General Command and the National Cyber Incident Response Centre, and was conducted under the supervision of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the report noted, without disclosing the timing of the operation.
