COMBAT (Drug Control Application)

UYUMA is a mobile application developed by the General Directorate of Security under Türkiye’s Ministry of Interior to enable citizens to report drug-related activities to law enforcement agencies quickly and effectively.

The project was implemented with the aim of leveraging technological capabilities and enhancing public awareness to prevent drug use and trafficking. Designed as a preventive measure against the widespread threat of drug abuse, particularly among youth and the broader population in Türkiye and globally, the project was officially launched on 26 September 2018 through a collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Security.^【1】 The primary objective of the application is to involve citizens in the fight against drug-related crime alongside law enforcement efforts, strengthen social responsibility, and create a more enduring and robust environment for combating such offenses. Developed entirely on a native and national software infrastructure, the application is available free of charge via smartphones.

National Software Priority and Technical Infrastructure

The decision to use national software in the development of the application is grounded in data security and operational speed. By being domestically developed, the software grants the General Directorate of Security (GDS) full control as the “data controller,” ensuring that sensitive reports and citizens’ personal information are stored directly within the state’s secure infrastructure rather than on foreign servers or under the control of third-party companies. All intellectual property rights to the application belong exclusively to the General Directorate of Security, eliminating dependence on external sources and enabling the state to implement its drug control strategies through its own technological framework. This technical security architecture prevents the transfer of data to international third-party data processors and ensures that the software’s source code and database management remain under the direct control of law enforcement units. Furthermore, the use of national software facilitates seamless integration with existing police command centers and deployment systems, enabling faster response to criminal activities.

Operational Mechanism and Procedures

The application’s operational mechanism is designed to accelerate the reporting process and enable location-based intervention. Citizens, after downloading the application onto their smartphones, register their personal details to activate their accounts. When users encounter suspected drug trafficking or use, they initiate a report by tapping a button within the application interface. The system automatically detects the user’s location at the time of reporting and transmits the alert in real time to the GDS command center. Upon receipt, the report is evaluated based on its location, and the nearest police unit is dispatched to the incident site. In cases involving street vendors, the closest units are directed accordingly; in cases involving large quantities of drugs or direct suspicion of dealers, the report is transferred to the Narcotics Directorate. Following deployment, physical surveillance and intervention are conducted at the suspect locations or against individuals, initiating judicial proceedings.

Privacy and Data Security Policies

One of the most critical features of the UYUMA application is the technical and administrative measures it employs to protect the identity of reporters. In all reports submitted through the application, the reporter’s personal information is strictly confidential and is never shared with third parties, suspects, or lawyers at any stage of the investigation. Although the reporter’s phone number is visible in the system for verification and communication purposes, privacy of identity remains the foundational principle. The technical infrastructure is designed to isolate identity data from operational data, processing the latter for action while safeguarding the former. User information is stored under specially designed technical and physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. In accordance with privacy policy, this data is retained only for the duration stipulated by law, strictly for the purposes of combating drug-related crime and supporting judicial processes. Upon expiration of the legal retention period or when the purpose of storage no longer exists, data deletion or anonymization is carried out as an integral part of the data security lifecycle.

Social Impact and Implementation

The UYUMA project, which encourages active citizen participation in the fight against drugs, provides significant intelligence support to law enforcement agencies. The application’s terms of use emphasize the importance of information security, and the assurance that the technology is directly backed by the state has strengthened public trust and participation. As a result of evaluating reports submitted through the application, tangible outcomes have been achieved in the field. For instance, in operations conducted in Istanbul, data received via UYUMA enabled authorities to identify addresses of street vendors, apprehend numerous suspects, and seize significant quantities of drugs. In this way, the application has digitized citizen engagement in the fight against drugs, ensuring a continuous flow of data to enhance operational effectiveness.