According to Lexology, Turkey has taken a significant step towards regulating artificial intelligence by submitting a Draft Artificial Intelligence Law to the Grand National Assembly on June 24, 2024. This move aligns with Turkey's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2021-2025, aiming to harmonize its regulations with international standards, particularly those of the European Union.

 

The draft law encompasses a wide range of AI-related aspects, including definitions of key terms such as Artificial Intelligence, providers, users, importers, and distributors. It establishes fundamental principles for AI development and use, emphasizing safety, transparency, fairness, accountability, and privacy.

 

A notable feature of the law is its risk management approach, requiring assessments for AI systems and special measures for high-risk applications. While the term "high-risk AI systems" is not explicitly defined in the draft, it is expected to be clarified in future secondary legislation.

 

The law also outlines compliance requirements and empowers supervisory authorities to inspect AI systems. Penalties for violations are substantial, with fines ranging from 7.5 million to 35 million Turkish Lira or up to 7% of annual turnover, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

 

While the Turkish draft law shares similar objectives with the EU AI Act, such as ensuring safe, ethical, and fair use of AI technologies, there are some differences in scope and definitions. The Turkish law focuses more on local AI operators, while the EU Act classifies AI systems by risk levels and mandates human oversight.

 

Experts suggest that the definitions in the Turkish draft could benefit from more detail to reflect the current state of AI technologies. Additionally, the responsibilities and liabilities of the actors defined in the Draft AI Law are expected to be further regulated in secondary legislation once the law comes into force.

 

This development marks a crucial step for Turkey in establishing a comprehensive legal framework for AI, aligning with global trends while addressing local needs and concerns.