The World and Türkiye in 2025

Aydın Tiryaki (December 31, 2025)
(Gemini AI was used as a data compilation and writing assistant)

Abstract: The year 2025 has been a year where cyberattacks became autonomous through artificial intelligence and individual data privacy nearly vanished. This article critically analyzes global cyber wars, the chronicized data leaks in Türkiye, and the legal gaps in the protection of personal data.

Introduction: The Frontlines of an Invisible War

As we bid farewell to 2025, the concept of security is no longer measured solely by physical borders. The millions of data flows occurring every second in the digital world have become the most vulnerable point for individuals and states alike. 2025 has been recorded as the year cybersecurity transformed from a “technology problem” into a “struggle for survival.”

1. Global Threat: AI-Powered Attacks

In 2025, cyber attackers began utilizing the most advanced artificial intelligence tools to bypass defense systems:

• Autonomous Phishing: By 2025, AI has become capable of analyzing individuals’ social media data to produce personalized, indistinguishable fake messages and voice recordings.
• Evolution of Ransomware: Ransomware targeting companies and public institutions has made “double extortion”—not just encrypting systems but also threatening to leak data to the public—the standard method in 2025.

2. Data Leaks in Türkiye: A Crisis of Trust

For Türkiye, the year 2025 has been a serious test regarding the protection of personal data:

• Chronicized Leaks: Throughout 2025, identity information, address data, and health records allegedly leaked from public institutions and private companies have caused a major loss of public trust. The ease of access to this data on the “dark web” has pushed cyber fraud cases to record levels.
• Lack of Oversight: The fact that fines imposed by the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) remain far from being a deterrent for large corporations causes data security investments to be viewed merely as a “cost.”

3. Is This the End of Data Privacy?

In 2025, the concept of “privacy” for individuals has given way to a “surveillance society”:

• Digital Footprint: The use of data collected through smart devices and applications for marketing or political manipulation without the users’ consent is the greatest ethical debate of 2025.
• Biometric Data Threat: Since biometric data like facial recognition and fingerprints cannot be changed like a password, their theft in 2025 has led to irreparable security vulnerabilities.

4. Cyber Defense and Economic Burden

The cost of keeping security systems up to date has increased exponentially in 2025. A large portion of SMEs in Türkiye struggle to access advanced cyber defense software due to exchange rates and technology costs. This situation makes small businesses, the backbone of the Turkish economy, the weakest link in the face of cyberattacks.

Conclusion

The data for 2025 has proven that cybersecurity can no longer be ensured through individual efforts alone. The future projection for 2026 suggests that cyberattacks will become even more complex, and data leaks will remain a systemic social risk. The vision for Türkiye in 2026 necessitates a deep-rooted strategy that does not just issue fines but strengthens the data security infrastructure at a national level and provides individuals with digital self-defense skills.

APPENDIX: CYBERSECURITY AND DATA PRIVACY – A CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

The year 2025 has marked a threshold where cyber threats no longer just infiltrate systems but directly “seize” the digital identities of individuals. On a global scale, discussions on the transition to post-quantum cryptography have gained momentum, while the unpredictable speed of AI-powered attacks has rendered traditional defense walls nearly ineffective. Data privacy, squeezed between the surveillance economy of big tech companies and the national security policies of states, has transformed from an individual right into a luxury commodity.

Regarding Türkiye, 2025 has been recorded as a year in which data breaches became “ordinary” and social trust was severely damaged. The uncontrolled circulation of identity data on illegal platforms has turned cyber fraud into an organized industry, while the inadequacy of legal oversight and technological investment costs has left particularly SMEs and individuals defenseless. As we enter 2026, the greatest risk for Türkiye is not just a technical vulnerability, but the total collapse of trust in the digital world, which has the potential to paralyze the entire digital ecosystem, from e-government services to fintech.

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)