Ban on Academics Generating Income Through Digital Platforms
With an official opinion forwarded by the Presidency to YÖK, revenues of civil servants and academics from digital channels were banned under the scope of commercial activity.
Through an official letter sent by the General Secretariat of the Presidency to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), public officials and university academics were banned from generating income from YouTube and similar digital channels pursuant to Law No. 657.
Legal Basis and Process
Based on an evaluation report prepared by the Revenue Administration of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Directorate General of Personnel and Principles of the Presidency sent an official letter to the Council of Higher Education.
The said letter was communicated to YÖK on September 2, 2026, sharing the details of the relevant legal framework.
Assessment of Commercial Activity
As a result of the official assessment, activities of generating income by producing content through websites, mobile applications, YouTube, and social media platforms were addressed.
It was decided that all revenues obtained from these channels fall within the scope of the prohibition on engaging in trade and profit-generating activities, as set forth in Article 28 of the Civil Servants Law No. 657.
Reactions from Academics
Following this decision, some academics who do not wish to face potential disciplinary sanctions suspended their broadcasts on digital platforms.
While some figures chose to shut down their channels completely, relevant experts and academics evaluated the potential legal and academic consequences of the decision.