Yeşil Dedektör Mobile Application is a digital reporting and notification system developed in Türkiye to enable the reporting of tobacco use in prohibited areas. The application is designed to support inspection activities carried out under Law No. 4207 on the Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Tobacco Products. Implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Green Crescent Society of Türkiye, and the World Health Organization Türkiye Office, the application aims to allow citizens to quickly report violations of tobacco use in enclosed spaces to the relevant authorities.
Yeşil Dedektör Mobile Application (Yeşilay Cemiyeti)
Development Process
The development of Yeşil Dedektör was initiated within the framework of supporting Türkiye’s tobacco control policies with digital infrastructure. The public launch of the application took place on May 31, 2016, in Ankara during the World No Tobacco Day event. The launch ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, the WHO Türkiye Representative, the President of the Green Crescent Society, and representatives from relevant public institutions.
Pilot Implementation and Nationwide Expansion
Initially, Yeşil Dedektör was piloted in the provinces of Istanbul and Ankara. During the pilot phase, user feedback and technical tests were evaluated, and integration with the Ministry of Health’s ALO 184 Communication Center system was completed. By 2017, the application became active in all provinces across Türkiye.
Operating Principles and Features
Yeşil Dedektör allows users to report violations of tobacco use in enclosed spaces via their smartphones. Reports are transmitted with automatic location information using the device’s GPS and forwarded to inspection teams through the 184 system. Users can report tobacco use in places such as restaurants, cafés, public transportation, or public buildings, adding location and venue details. Field inspection teams are then directed to the reported locations to carry out necessary inspections.
Legal Basis and Integration
Yeşil Dedektör operates under Law No. 4207 on the Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Tobacco Products and the associated Regulation, forming the foundation of Türkiye’s tobacco control policy. The application complies with Türkiye’s obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and is positioned as a societal participation mechanism to protect smoke-free environments in line with the Ministry of Health’s Tobacco Control Action Plan and Youth Tobacco Control Action Plan.
Institutional Collaboration
Yeşil Dedektör application is coordinated by the Ministry of Health with technical and societal awareness support from the Green Crescent Society of Türkiye. The WHO Türkiye Office has also provided technical support for the development and dissemination of the application.
Usage and Statistics
The application is available free of charge for Android and iOS devices and can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store. Following the pilot phase, Yeşil Dedektör was made available in all provinces of Türkiye, and users’ reports contribute to the effectiveness of tobacco control inspections.
Societal and Institutional Impact
Yeşil Dedektör is among the first digital platforms in Türkiye to promote citizen participation in tobacco control. Reporting violations of tobacco use in enclosed spaces has increased inspection efficiency. The application contributes to protecting individuals from passive smoking and to the dissemination of smoke-free living awareness in society, supporting the goal of “Completely Smoke-Free Environments.”
Scope and Inspection Mechanism
Reports submitted via Yeşil Dedektör are evaluated by inspection teams assigned to provincial health directorates. Teams conduct inspections at the reported venues and carry out necessary actions in accordance with Law No. 4207. This process is integrated into the monitoring infrastructure of the tobacco control system and supported by legal enforcement mechanisms.
