Yasin Tokat is a final year Ph.D. candidate at the faculty of law and political science of the University of Szeged in Hungary. His main research area is the emergence of cyber diplomacy as a new tool to settle disputes in the digital space and extend the confidence-building mechanism among international actors through cooperation and commitment. He received his master's degree in international relations with honors from Budapest Business School in Hungary and his LLM in European Public Law from the European Public Law Organization in Greece with a research paper on the rise of internet platform regulation practices in the European Union and growing issues with malicious use of internet platforms versus the limits on free speech. Yasin obtained his bachelor's degree in linguistics with honors from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and spent one exchange year studying German linguistics at Dortmund Technical University in Germany. He speaks French, English, German, and Turkish fluently. Aside from academia, he is interested in international business and consulting because he has extensive experience in international business from his work in large multinational corporations. Supervisors: Norbert Merkovity and Béla Révész
Cyberspace, an expanding and boundless platform created by a vast network of interconnected devic... more Cyberspace, an expanding and boundless platform created by a vast network of interconnected devices, has caused a fundamental change in communication, work, and information accessibility. The unprecedented potential of this platform, however, also poses major challenges in terms of privacy and security. Due to its multinational nature, cyberspace transcends the sovereignty of any one government and therefore evades exclusive ownership by a nation-state. Although the growth of digitalization has simplified many processes and increased productivity in daily life, this exponential growth has rendered the digital ecosystem more vulnerable to a wide range of cybersecurity threats. The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks and operations carried out by both state and non-state actors highlight the need for better international cooperation to help protect critical infrastructure from malicious actors. Collective action in response to global cyber threats requires consistency and adherence to ethical principles within the international community. Ethical approaches to leadership and international cooperation can play an important part in resolving global cybersecurity issues by paving the way for the development and adoption of better and more effective cybersecurity policies that can help mitigate the risk more optimally. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibilities of bolstering global solidarity via the use of ethical methods to combat the challenges posed by digital technology. The intricate and interconnected nature of cyber issues underscores the cruciality of ethical governance in the identification and implementation of practical solutions. The present study seeks to examine and assess the practicality, applicability, and efficiency of various ethical frameworks in addressing issues pertaining to digital platforms, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the interplay between ethics and cybersecurity. This study would contribute to the development of strategies for inspiring ethical and responsible behavior from public and private sectors regarding cybersecurity, and to the promotion of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing global cyber threats.
One of the most astounding achievements of this millennium has been the invention of artificial i... more One of the most astounding achievements of this millennium has been the invention of artificial intelligence, or AI for short. Artificial intelligence is intelligence displayed by machines, as opposed to the natural intelligence displayed by people and other animals. A rising number of industries are employing AI while the numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years. AI applications can help people analyze complicated problems and identify effective solutions. Moreover, AI technologies will be used in an increasing number of industries and enterprises, which will spur the formation of new domains and the development of new technologies. Despite its various potential benefits, the development and deployment of AI algorithms pose some current and future challenges as well. It is, therefore, critical to pay attention to how the algorithms are developed and applied. If it is done carelessly, this mishandling of technology might have some dire consequences. Furthermore, there are additional obstacles because one of the most significant issues with AI is its increasing complexity, which makes it more difficult to grasp and evaluate the deployed algorithms. As a result, when developing the regulations, major ethical issues concerning AI must be examined. Furthermore, excessive regulation may inhibit innovation and impede the development of better AI applications. It should be ensured that it is developed ethically and used in ways that benefit all of humanity if we are to reap the full benefits of this technology. From these points of view, the research aims to compare and contrast different regulatory strategies adopted by the US, the EU, and China.
8th International Conferences on Economics and Social Sciences Conference Proceedings, 2022
The growth of the internet and technology has been nothing short of exponential. Latest developme... more The growth of the internet and technology has been nothing short of exponential. Latest developments in computer and telecommunication technologies, as well as emergencies such as COVID-19, are hastening the adoption of such technologies into every part of our lives. Currently, internet technologies are an essential part of daily life, which are expected to remain open and free for everyone to connect and exchange information freely and fairly on a global scale. Since its beginnings, the internet has been designed as an open platform that is not governed by a single entity, resulting in numerous parties and a wide range of interests among those parties. This landscape, however, is not the same as it was three or two decades ago. Currently, Big Tech companies play increasingly dominant roles in the development and evolution of internet technologies, making them influential on the rules of the game on a global scale. By definition, big, powerful private corporations are expected to pursue their interests, which may differ significantly from those of other parties. Governments, on the other hand, may have divergent interests in areas such as finance, taxation, market competitiveness, use of personal data, data protection, information security, intellectual property, cybersecurity, state espionage, copyright, free speech, censorship, and many others. Nevertheless, the current market power of Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple is greater than the annual GDP of some small or medium-sized countries, particularly underdeveloped or developing countries. From a theoretical perspective, this global transcendence of influence and economic power is putting great pressure on the state and its self-centric viewpoint conveyed through the realism theory. There are also great powers with strong cyber capacities whose legacy reigns supreme in the information technology sector. As a result, in globally open cyberspace, there are clear power disparities between various involved parties. This study will investigate the friction points caused by the disparate parties' differing interests and determine whether some of these disparities can ever be reconciled or reduced. One of the main goals of the study is to determine the viability of developing potential solutions to those problems. Qualitative research and case studies will be utilized in the conduct of this study.
In democratic regimes and democratic policymaking, freedom of expression and unrestricted exchang... more In democratic regimes and democratic policymaking, freedom of expression and unrestricted exchange of information are fundamental parts that help maintain the checks and balances of the whole system. The internet is meant to be a free, global platform where constructive ideas would contribute to human development from all around the globe that would increase democratization and individual freedoms. Yet, the dawn of the new millennium began to reveal some harmful effects of this technology in the hands of uninformed or malicious users. In order to adopt a safe and fair use of digital technologies in everyday life, certain changes are needed to ensure the security and reliability of the internet platforms. This way, states tend to respond to new challenges with new regulatory mechanisms. Nevertheless, such issues and rising control mechanisms also trigger concerns regarding the free flow of information and ideas on a globally accessible internet. The challenge is the difficulty of dealing with international legal problems efficiently and accurately over the internet. The apparent dominance of major digital platforms on the internet and the emergence of new concerns such as misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and political extremism, necessitate the establishment of some safety measures through regulations and legislation. Nonetheless, it is not the users' rights that need to be compromised and curbed in order to establish a secure platform. This paper aims to investigate the malevolent use of social media platforms, regulatory aspects of speech on digital platforms, and the positive and negative effects of the potential regulations on the exercise of fundamental human rights such as the freedom of speech and the free exchange of information from various aspects.
National Conference of Doctoral Students in Law, 2022
Because of the internet's worldwide and complicated network, new challenges and debates concernin... more Because of the internet's worldwide and complicated network, new challenges and debates concerning the use of technology in the best interests of nation-states began to emerge. New ways are required to manage policy, influence behavior, and address all of the current concerns surrounding internet use. As the law tries to catch up with technology, new rules such as the European Digital Services Act, Germany's NetzDG, and the United Kingdom's Online Harms Bill have been introduced. The study will examine these regulations and assess their possible impact on the internet.
Europe on a New Route: Legal and Social Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Brexit, 2021
COVID-19 has become one of those remarkable events of the 21st century as the pandemic rages wild... more COVID-19 has become one of those remarkable events of the 21st century as the pandemic rages wildly across the globe, forcing governments to prevent social gatherings and push for strict lockdown measures. The internet and tech companies have become an essential tool in governments' inventory for tackling the crisis as the forced curfew measures made e-schooling, home office, and e-meetings almost a mandatory practice for most of the developed world. Moreover, crisis management, tracking of the COVID-19 infected people, data and statistics about the virus, and patients' data in the hospital database further increase the importance of utilizing the internet and technology to tackle the plague and its devastating effects both in terms of human life and economy. As the dependencies increase, so do the vulnerabilities, the stakes, and the concerns. The COVID-19 lockdown and increased use of internet technologies have significantly elevated cyberattacks and cybercrime. Such attacks can be quite harmful when directed toward critical infrastructure and institutions, such as the financial sector, power grids, and hospitals. The European countries have also received their fair share from the attacks as the continent is one of the busy corners of cyberspace. There have been many cyberattacks on hospital computers that raised concerns about patient safety and well-being in the EU. Such attacks can be serious threats that go beyond digital or economic damages, they threaten human life. In this paper, major critical and life-threatening cyberattacks that took place in the EU and possibly legal, regulatory, and diplomatic will be investigated. While these challenges continue to cast their shadow, new common grounds and understanding can be achieved through new tools and dynamics, such as cyber diplomacy, confidence-building mechanisms, and the encouragement of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Hence, the emphasis will be given to cooperation, regulation, diplomacy, and capacity building rather than protectionism, digital hegemony, and militarization of cyberspace to decrease and deter such acts in the digital landscape.
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected almost every aspect of daily life. Nevertheless, the... more The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected almost every aspect of daily life. Nevertheless, the activities dealing with social gatherings and travel were affected the most. In this paper, the effect of the pandemic on university students, especially international students will be investigated from technical, economical, and psychological aspects. Some institutions have chosen to switch their courses from campus to online due to the pandemic. Undoubtedly, distance education is quite beneficial and necessary for the well-being of the entire society. If it was not for online education, education would have come to a complete halt. Notwithstanding, there are also some side effects and setbacks of this proposed solution for the sake of continuity of formal education behind the curfew and social gathering restrictions. In a distance learning mode, the learning experience is quite different from being in the lecture room physically. It is essential to analyze such drawbacks, institutional and student preparedness in the face of compulsory distance learning, in order to understand the issues brought about by the pandemic and improve the overall quality and conduct of this type of teaching/learning activity. This study will investigate the possible drawbacks of distance education for the students who either study at the university or are prospective on doing so.
Cyberspace, an expanding and boundless platform created by a vast network of interconnected devic... more Cyberspace, an expanding and boundless platform created by a vast network of interconnected devices, has caused a fundamental change in communication, work, and information accessibility. The unprecedented potential of this platform, however, also poses major challenges in terms of privacy and security. Due to its multinational nature, cyberspace transcends the sovereignty of any one government and therefore evades exclusive ownership by a nation-state. Although the growth of digitalization has simplified many processes and increased productivity in daily life, this exponential growth has rendered the digital ecosystem more vulnerable to a wide range of cybersecurity threats. The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks and operations carried out by both state and non-state actors highlight the need for better international cooperation to help protect critical infrastructure from malicious actors. Collective action in response to global cyber threats requires consistency and adherence to ethical principles within the international community. Ethical approaches to leadership and international cooperation can play an important part in resolving global cybersecurity issues by paving the way for the development and adoption of better and more effective cybersecurity policies that can help mitigate the risk more optimally. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibilities of bolstering global solidarity via the use of ethical methods to combat the challenges posed by digital technology. The intricate and interconnected nature of cyber issues underscores the cruciality of ethical governance in the identification and implementation of practical solutions. The present study seeks to examine and assess the practicality, applicability, and efficiency of various ethical frameworks in addressing issues pertaining to digital platforms, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the interplay between ethics and cybersecurity. This study would contribute to the development of strategies for inspiring ethical and responsible behavior from public and private sectors regarding cybersecurity, and to the promotion of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing global cyber threats.
One of the most astounding achievements of this millennium has been the invention of artificial i... more One of the most astounding achievements of this millennium has been the invention of artificial intelligence, or AI for short. Artificial intelligence is intelligence displayed by machines, as opposed to the natural intelligence displayed by people and other animals. A rising number of industries are employing AI while the numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years. AI applications can help people analyze complicated problems and identify effective solutions. Moreover, AI technologies will be used in an increasing number of industries and enterprises, which will spur the formation of new domains and the development of new technologies. Despite its various potential benefits, the development and deployment of AI algorithms pose some current and future challenges as well. It is, therefore, critical to pay attention to how the algorithms are developed and applied. If it is done carelessly, this mishandling of technology might have some dire consequences. Furthermore, there are additional obstacles because one of the most significant issues with AI is its increasing complexity, which makes it more difficult to grasp and evaluate the deployed algorithms. As a result, when developing the regulations, major ethical issues concerning AI must be examined. Furthermore, excessive regulation may inhibit innovation and impede the development of better AI applications. It should be ensured that it is developed ethically and used in ways that benefit all of humanity if we are to reap the full benefits of this technology. From these points of view, the research aims to compare and contrast different regulatory strategies adopted by the US, the EU, and China.
8th International Conferences on Economics and Social Sciences Conference Proceedings, 2022
The growth of the internet and technology has been nothing short of exponential. Latest developme... more The growth of the internet and technology has been nothing short of exponential. Latest developments in computer and telecommunication technologies, as well as emergencies such as COVID-19, are hastening the adoption of such technologies into every part of our lives. Currently, internet technologies are an essential part of daily life, which are expected to remain open and free for everyone to connect and exchange information freely and fairly on a global scale. Since its beginnings, the internet has been designed as an open platform that is not governed by a single entity, resulting in numerous parties and a wide range of interests among those parties. This landscape, however, is not the same as it was three or two decades ago. Currently, Big Tech companies play increasingly dominant roles in the development and evolution of internet technologies, making them influential on the rules of the game on a global scale. By definition, big, powerful private corporations are expected to pursue their interests, which may differ significantly from those of other parties. Governments, on the other hand, may have divergent interests in areas such as finance, taxation, market competitiveness, use of personal data, data protection, information security, intellectual property, cybersecurity, state espionage, copyright, free speech, censorship, and many others. Nevertheless, the current market power of Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple is greater than the annual GDP of some small or medium-sized countries, particularly underdeveloped or developing countries. From a theoretical perspective, this global transcendence of influence and economic power is putting great pressure on the state and its self-centric viewpoint conveyed through the realism theory. There are also great powers with strong cyber capacities whose legacy reigns supreme in the information technology sector. As a result, in globally open cyberspace, there are clear power disparities between various involved parties. This study will investigate the friction points caused by the disparate parties' differing interests and determine whether some of these disparities can ever be reconciled or reduced. One of the main goals of the study is to determine the viability of developing potential solutions to those problems. Qualitative research and case studies will be utilized in the conduct of this study.
In democratic regimes and democratic policymaking, freedom of expression and unrestricted exchang... more In democratic regimes and democratic policymaking, freedom of expression and unrestricted exchange of information are fundamental parts that help maintain the checks and balances of the whole system. The internet is meant to be a free, global platform where constructive ideas would contribute to human development from all around the globe that would increase democratization and individual freedoms. Yet, the dawn of the new millennium began to reveal some harmful effects of this technology in the hands of uninformed or malicious users. In order to adopt a safe and fair use of digital technologies in everyday life, certain changes are needed to ensure the security and reliability of the internet platforms. This way, states tend to respond to new challenges with new regulatory mechanisms. Nevertheless, such issues and rising control mechanisms also trigger concerns regarding the free flow of information and ideas on a globally accessible internet. The challenge is the difficulty of dealing with international legal problems efficiently and accurately over the internet. The apparent dominance of major digital platforms on the internet and the emergence of new concerns such as misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and political extremism, necessitate the establishment of some safety measures through regulations and legislation. Nonetheless, it is not the users' rights that need to be compromised and curbed in order to establish a secure platform. This paper aims to investigate the malevolent use of social media platforms, regulatory aspects of speech on digital platforms, and the positive and negative effects of the potential regulations on the exercise of fundamental human rights such as the freedom of speech and the free exchange of information from various aspects.
National Conference of Doctoral Students in Law, 2022
Because of the internet's worldwide and complicated network, new challenges and debates concernin... more Because of the internet's worldwide and complicated network, new challenges and debates concerning the use of technology in the best interests of nation-states began to emerge. New ways are required to manage policy, influence behavior, and address all of the current concerns surrounding internet use. As the law tries to catch up with technology, new rules such as the European Digital Services Act, Germany's NetzDG, and the United Kingdom's Online Harms Bill have been introduced. The study will examine these regulations and assess their possible impact on the internet.
Europe on a New Route: Legal and Social Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Brexit, 2021
COVID-19 has become one of those remarkable events of the 21st century as the pandemic rages wild... more COVID-19 has become one of those remarkable events of the 21st century as the pandemic rages wildly across the globe, forcing governments to prevent social gatherings and push for strict lockdown measures. The internet and tech companies have become an essential tool in governments' inventory for tackling the crisis as the forced curfew measures made e-schooling, home office, and e-meetings almost a mandatory practice for most of the developed world. Moreover, crisis management, tracking of the COVID-19 infected people, data and statistics about the virus, and patients' data in the hospital database further increase the importance of utilizing the internet and technology to tackle the plague and its devastating effects both in terms of human life and economy. As the dependencies increase, so do the vulnerabilities, the stakes, and the concerns. The COVID-19 lockdown and increased use of internet technologies have significantly elevated cyberattacks and cybercrime. Such attacks can be quite harmful when directed toward critical infrastructure and institutions, such as the financial sector, power grids, and hospitals. The European countries have also received their fair share from the attacks as the continent is one of the busy corners of cyberspace. There have been many cyberattacks on hospital computers that raised concerns about patient safety and well-being in the EU. Such attacks can be serious threats that go beyond digital or economic damages, they threaten human life. In this paper, major critical and life-threatening cyberattacks that took place in the EU and possibly legal, regulatory, and diplomatic will be investigated. While these challenges continue to cast their shadow, new common grounds and understanding can be achieved through new tools and dynamics, such as cyber diplomacy, confidence-building mechanisms, and the encouragement of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Hence, the emphasis will be given to cooperation, regulation, diplomacy, and capacity building rather than protectionism, digital hegemony, and militarization of cyberspace to decrease and deter such acts in the digital landscape.
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected almost every aspect of daily life. Nevertheless, the... more The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected almost every aspect of daily life. Nevertheless, the activities dealing with social gatherings and travel were affected the most. In this paper, the effect of the pandemic on university students, especially international students will be investigated from technical, economical, and psychological aspects. Some institutions have chosen to switch their courses from campus to online due to the pandemic. Undoubtedly, distance education is quite beneficial and necessary for the well-being of the entire society. If it was not for online education, education would have come to a complete halt. Notwithstanding, there are also some side effects and setbacks of this proposed solution for the sake of continuity of formal education behind the curfew and social gathering restrictions. In a distance learning mode, the learning experience is quite different from being in the lecture room physically. It is essential to analyze such drawbacks, institutional and student preparedness in the face of compulsory distance learning, in order to understand the issues brought about by the pandemic and improve the overall quality and conduct of this type of teaching/learning activity. This study will investigate the possible drawbacks of distance education for the students who either study at the university or are prospective on doing so.
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Papers by Yasin Tokat
the risk more optimally. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibilities of bolstering global solidarity via the use of ethical methods to combat the challenges posed by digital technology. The intricate and interconnected nature of cyber issues underscores the cruciality of ethical
governance in the identification and implementation of practical solutions. The present study seeks to examine and assess the practicality, applicability, and efficiency of various ethical frameworks in addressing issues pertaining to digital platforms, thereby contributing to a better
understanding of the interplay between ethics and cybersecurity. This study would contribute to the development of strategies for inspiring ethical and responsible behavior from public and private sectors regarding cybersecurity, and to the promotion of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing global cyber threats.
the risk more optimally. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibilities of bolstering global solidarity via the use of ethical methods to combat the challenges posed by digital technology. The intricate and interconnected nature of cyber issues underscores the cruciality of ethical
governance in the identification and implementation of practical solutions. The present study seeks to examine and assess the practicality, applicability, and efficiency of various ethical frameworks in addressing issues pertaining to digital platforms, thereby contributing to a better
understanding of the interplay between ethics and cybersecurity. This study would contribute to the development of strategies for inspiring ethical and responsible behavior from public and private sectors regarding cybersecurity, and to the promotion of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing global cyber threats.