Bıçak Law Firm is proud to announce that our Founding Partner, Prof. Dr. Vahit Bıçak, has been featured in the internationally respected New Lines Magazine in an in-depth article authored by journalist Ylenia Gostoli, titled “Turkey’s AI-Powered Protest Crackdown.”

The article investigates the Turkish government’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technologies to monitor and suppress protests, raising significant concerns about privacy rights, due process, and the rule of law.

Drawing upon his decades of experience as a criminal law scholar and former academic at the Turkish National Police Academy, Prof. Dr. Bıçak provided expert legal insight on the constitutional and legislative implications of AI-enabled policing in Türkiye.

In his interview, Prof. Dr. Bıçak emphasized that while the Turkish Constitution guarantees critical rights—including the right to privacy (Article 20), the right to a fair trial (Article 36), and the inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence (Article 38)—existing legislation falls short in addressing the unique legal challenges posed by AI technologies.

He noted:

“Artificial intelligence is not just a tool. It’s a reflection of values we encode into it. There should always be legal guarantees ensuring that AI serves justice — not replaces it, undermines it, or automates its erosion.”

Prof. Dr. Bıçak further highlighted the need for specific and enforceable legal frameworks to ensure that public authorities operate within clearly defined limits and remain accountable to democratic oversight.

📄 The full article can be accessed at the following link:
👉 Turkey’s AI-Powered Protest Crackdown – New Lines Magazine

At Bıçak Law Firm, we remain committed to contributing to public discourse on emerging legal issues at the intersection of technology, fundamental rights, and law enforcement, and to promoting responsible, rights-based approaches to AI regulation.