They sold T.C. identity and phone numbers! Massive operation in 42 provinces: 74 people who sold personal information were caught

Turkish authorities detained 74 suspects in a simultaneous operation across 42 provinces, centered on Istanbul, targeting people accused of harvesting citizens' personal data—including national ID numbers and phone numbers—and sharing or selling it in messaging-app groups. The raids were carried out under the AI-supported "AVCI Project," which identified the addresses targeted in the sweep. The case highlights growing scrutiny of data privacy in Turkey, where personal information is routinely traded without consent. What to watch next: whether the 74 detainees are formally arrested or released, and whether regulators extend the AVCI model to other data-brokerage cases.