Minister: Turkish data leak not from central system

ANKARA

Interior Minister Efkan Ala has said “there is no need to worry” about reports of a major leak of private data belonging to millions of Turkish citizens.

Speaking during a news meeting in parliament on Wednesday, Ala said the leak was not from Turkey’s central civil registration system (MERNIS), the General Census Directorate.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also commented on the allegations during a news conference alongside Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila in Helsinki on Wednesday.

"I would like to reassure all Turkish citizens that all necessary measures are being taken. Cyber-crimes constitute a threat to the entire world.

“It is of vital importance to protect personal data entrusted to states and entities. The personal data of our citizens are as important as the personal data of mine as a prime minister," said Davutoglu.

Earlier in the day, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the reports which suggest that the personal information of nearly 50 million Turkish citizens had been leaked online.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, public prosecutors would contact a range of Turkish institutions such as the Supreme Electoral Committee as well as the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, as data on voters are shared with political parties before elections.