Law 6284 Protection in AirTag Persistent Stalking: Where and How to Apply?

Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence Against Women aims to protect women, children, family members, and victims of one-sided persistent stalking against violence. For that reason, suspicion of being tracked with an AirTag, phone location, or another digital tool can matter for protective mechanisms if it is part of threat, control, or following behavior.

Finding an AirTag alone does not mean a specific measure will be granted. The competent authority assesses the whole risk, the parties’ relationship, previous incidents, and the safety need.

First step in an emergency

In near and serious danger, do not lose time preparing an application petition; call the 112 Emergency Call Center or go to the nearest police/gendarmerie unit. If returning home looks risky, stay in a public, safe place. Do not confront the person you suspect.

The Ministry of Family and Social Services also notes that the ALO 183 Anti-Violence Line offers 24/7 guidance and referrals. ŞÖNİMs (Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers) can provide psychological, legal, and social referrals.

Who can be protected under 6284?

The ministry’s current information lists these groups:

• Women exposed to violence or under threat of violence.
• Children and family members.
• Relevant cases for other people living under the same roof.
• Spouses living apart or with a separation decision about them.
• Victims of one-sided persistent stalking.

Protection does not come up only after physical violence occurs. Threat and violence risk can also be taken into assessment.

Where can you apply?

Application and help points under 6284 include:

• Police station or gendarmerie station.
• Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
• Family Court judgeship.
• Governorship or district governorship.
• Violence Prevention and Monitoring Center (ŞÖNİM).
• Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.
• ALO 183 Anti-Violence Line.
• 112 in an emergency.

Having a lawyer during the application is not mandatory. If you want legal support, the bars’ women’s rights centers and legal-aid offices are also among the application options.

Which measures may come up?

Depending on the concrete incident, different measures can be assessed for the protected person and the person who applies or may apply violence. The ministry’s information lists as examples:

• Changing the protected person’s workplace or place of residence.
• Temporary protection in mortal danger.
• Providing shelter.
• Keeping identity and address details confidential in official records.
• The perpetrator not approaching the home, school, or workplace.
• Not harassing through communication tools or other means.
• Removal from the shared home.
• Surrendering their weapon.

The competent authority decides which measure fits. Concretize your need in your request: instead of “stop bothering me”, explain risk-linked matters such as not approaching the home, workplace, and children’s school, and not contacting through phones and third parties.

Can you apply without evidence or documents?

In 6284 practice, fast protection is essential for protective measure decisions, and assessment can be made without seeking evidence or documents for certain measures. This does not mean your records are unimportant. The AirTag alert if one exists; if no notification, the physical device, scan record, serial number, and previous incident chronology can help the risk be understood.

Even if you have no physical device yet, you can explain your tracking concern, the alert map, and previous behavior. The thought “I have no definitive proof” should not delay an urgent safety application.

What can you put in your application file?

• The phone’s unknown-tracker alert and route screenshots if any; if not, scan time and place notes.
• Wide and close-up photos of the found AirTag.
• Serial number and masked owner details.
• Date-time order of the events.
• Messages, call records, and social-media contacts.
• Witness names.
• Place and time details where camera footage may exist.
• Previous application, measure, or investigation numbers.
• The tracking’s effect on your daily life and your children.

Do not delete the original records; keep the screenshots in a safe copy. Instead of entering the suspect’s account without permission or producing unlawful evidence, present the existing finding to the competent authority.

If a measure decision is violated

If a new AirTag, message, or physical-following incident occurs while an approach or no-contact measure exists, report to law enforcement without delay. Present the existing decision’s date and number together with the new incident’s proof. Per the ministry’s explanation, a measure violation can be subject to coercive imprisonment; the Family Court makes the assessment.

Are a criminal complaint and a protection request the same thing?

No. A 6284 application is a protective/preventive measure process to reduce future risk. A criminal complaint aims to investigate whether the realized act constitutes a crime. Both can proceed together on the same incident, and you may not need to wait for one to conclude for the other.

In an AirTag tracking claim, TCK 123/A persistent stalking, private-life, and personal-data provisions can be discussed per the incident’s conditions. Get lawyer support for a concrete legal strategy.

Free support and legal aid

No fee is charged in principle for procedures under 6284. People who cannot afford lawyer fees can document their economic situation and request support from the legal-aid office of their province’s bar. ŞÖNİM and ALO 183 can also refer to suitable institutions.

Official sources

• Ministry of Family and Social Services: When exposed to violence, and 6284
• GNAT: Law No. 6284 information
• Ministry of Family and Social Services: ALO 183
• Ministry of Family and Social Services: 6284 Implementation Regulation