Ethical Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Public Officials in Türkiye

1. What Is the Public Officials Ethics Board of Türkiye?

The Public Officials Ethics Board of Türkiye is an independent public body established to:

• Define ethical standards for public service
• Prevent conflicts of interest and misuse of authority
• Promote integrity, transparency, and public trust in government

The Board issues binding ethical principles for public officials and provides guidance on how public duties must be carried out in line with democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights.

This decision is part of Türkiye’s broader effort to regulate artificial intelligence use in the public sector in a responsible and human-centered manner.

2. Who Is Considered a “Public Official” in Türkiye?

In the Turkish legal system, a public official refers to any person who performs a public duty on behalf of the state or a public institution.

This includes, among others:

• Civil servants and government employees
• Officials working in ministries, municipalities, and regulatory authorities
• Managers and decision-makers in public institutions
• Personnel involved in public service delivery

In short, anyone who exercises public authority or provides public services using state power is considered a public official.

3. Purpose of the AI Ethics Decision

The decision sets out ethical principles that public officials must follow when using AI systems during their official duties.

Its main objectives are:

• Protecting human dignity and fundamental rights
• Preserving public trust in government decisions
• Preventing legal, ethical, and technical risks arising from AI use
• Ensuring that AI remains a supporting tool, not a replacement for human judgment

4. Key Ethical Risks Identified by the Board

The Ethics Board explicitly recognizes that AI systems may:

• Produce inaccurate or incomplete outputs
• Reinforce bias or discrimination
• Mislead decision-makers
• Violate data protection and confidentiality rules
• Reduce meaningful human control over decisions

Therefore, AI must always remain under human supervision and responsibility.

5. Core Ethical Principles Explained Simply

A. Competence and Awareness

Public officials must:

• Use AI consciously and within clear limits
• Understand that excessive reliance on AI can weaken human judgment
• Be aware that AI systems can generate biased, misleading, or legally problematic results
• Avoid using AI as the final decision-maker in critical public matters

B. Integrity and Honesty

• AI use must not be hidden when preparing official documents or analyses
• AI-generated outputs must be verified before use
• Personal data must not be unlawfully collected, processed, stored, or transferred through AI systems
• Intellectual property rights must be respected
• AI systems must not be manipulated to bypass ethical or legal rules

C. Impartiality and Non-Discrimination

AI systems must not be used to:

• Create prejudice about individuals
• Discriminate or favor certain groups
• Damage reputations or conduct profiling

All AI use must serve the public interest, not personal or institutional bias.

D. Transparency

• AI tools may only be used with managerial approval
• Managers must be informed throughout the process
• AI-generated information must not replace institutional decision-making mechanisms

E. Confidentiality and Data Security

Public officials must:

• Protect institutional confidentiality and personal data
• Avoid sharing sensitive information with AI systems unlawfully
• Assess risks related to data storage, processing, and transfer
• Inform management about potential AI-related security risks

F. Accountability

• Legal and ethical responsibility for AI-generated content always lies with the public official
• Outputs must be checked for accuracy and reliability
• Officials must stay informed about relevant national and international regulations

G. Responsibility of Managers

Managers in public institutions must:

• Establish safeguards for ethical AI use
• Ensure AI systems are human-centered and respect human rights
• Assign trained and authorized personnel
• Enable regular monitoring and intervention mechanisms
• Integrate AI ethics into institutional culture

6. Key Takeaway for Foreign Readers

This decision clearly establishes that in Türkiye:

• AI is a supporting tool, not an autonomous authority
• Final responsibility always remains with the human public official
• Ethics, legality, human rights, and public interest set the boundaries of AI use

For foreign companies, investors, and technology providers working with Turkish public institutions, this decision signals a clear compliance expectation regarding transparency, accountability, and human oversight in AI-driven processes.