Rules of Internet Use
National Academic Network and Information Center (ULAKBİM) Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Agreement
Definitions
1. This Acceptable Use Policy delineates the rules, regulations, and guidelines applicable to all "UlakNet" users.
2. User institutions comprise universities and research entities; users are defined as the students, faculty members, researchers, and other personnel affiliated with these institutions.
3. UlakNet refers to the comprehensive suite of services and infrastructure utilized to fulfill users' communication requirements over a network operating on the TCP/IP protocol.
4. UlakNet is operated by ULAKBİM, an institute of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), in strict compliance with TÜBİTAK regulations.
5. UlakNet is a network network that reserves the principles and obligations specified in this document, of which the Signing Party shall be fully apprised and for which they shall bear ultimate liability.
6. The provisions set forth in this document apply primarily to the user institutions. User institutions shall remain liable for ensuring that their respective users comply with these rules and statutory regulations, and they shall take all necessary precautionary measures to that end.
7. Consequently, user institutions are strongly advised to draft their own institutional Acceptable Use Policy Agreements and mandate that their users sign them.
Acceptable Use Policy
8. The optimal utilization and security of the Network necessitate robust cooperation among diverse users. This cooperation is fundamentally predicated upon the undertaking of the Signing Party—accessing UlakNet either directly or indirectly—to ensure that users under its purview rigorously adhere to the following provisions:
8.1. The UlakNet Network is strictly dedicated to professional purposes, namely: scientific research, technological advancement, technology transfer, and the dissemination of scientific, technical, and cultural information.
8.2. The transmission of, and access to, information over the Network shall be executed in strict compliance with the relevant statutory regulations.
8.3. Under no circumstances shall unauthorized third-party individuals or entities be granted access to UlakNet, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and regardless of whether such access is provided free of charge or for a fee.
8.4. Technical capabilities and human resources shall be deployed to maintain an adequate and continuous level of security, and to effectively preclude any unauthorized network intrusions originating from within their respective institutions.
8.5. User institutions shall ensure that their respective mail servers are strictly configured to prohibit open relay mail routing.
8.6. In general terms, full compliance with the stipulations of this Acceptable Use Policy Agreement shall be maintained.
Prohibited Use
9. Any breach or violation of system and network security is strictly prohibited and may result in civil and criminal liability. ULAKBİM shall investigate incidents involving such violations and actively cooperate with law enforcement authorities if a criminal offense is suspected. The UlakNet network shall not be utilized for the following purposes:
9.1. Transmitting unsolicited communications, such as commercial advertisements and mass announcements (SPAM messages);
9.2. Utilizing another user's mail server for the purpose of relaying or transmitting messages without the express prior authorization of said user;
9.3. Generating traffic anomalies or configurations designed to adversely affect, disrupt, or compromise the Quality of Service (QoS) across UlakNet;
9.4. Producing and distributing obscene, offensive, or inappropriate materials inconsistent with the intended use of the network (excluding data strictly integrated into academic and scientific research);
9.5. Producing and distributing deceptive, defamatory, or malicious content intended to cause distress, harassment, or unwarranted anxiety;
9.6. Producing and distributing libelous or slanderous material;
9.7. Distributing material that infringes upon the intellectual property rights (copyrights) of third parties, including but not limited to texts, articles, books, films, and musical works;
9.8. Intentionally executing unauthorized access to, or exploitation of, domestic or international services via UlakNet;
9.9. Engaging in the following premeditated actions:
9.9.1. Corrupting, altering, or destroying data belonging to other entities or individuals;
9.9.2. Violating the privacy or personal data protection rights of others;
9.9.3. Sabotaging, disrupting, or undermining the work and operations of other users;
9.9.4. Generating excessive network traffic to such an extent that it induces a denial of service for other users;
9.9.5. Persistently deploying or utilizing software applications whose use has been explicitly prohibited and announced by ULAKBİM on the grounds that they impede network operations or generate redundant traffic.
Compliance and Enforcement
10. The Signing Party to this Acceptable Use Policy explicitly acknowledges and agrees that ULAKBİM reserves the right to monitor and audit network utilization in order to ensure compliance with the provisions set forth in Articles 8 and 9, without prejudice to the personal privacy and fundamental rights of the users.
11. The Signing Party acknowledges that upon becoming aware of any disruptive incident, ULAKBİM may implement emergency measures to preserve network security, including but not limited to the temporary suspension of national or international access to UlakNet. However, provided that the incident in question does not imminently jeopardize general network operations and overall security, such measures shall only be enacted following formal communication with the respective institution and after granting a reasonable remediation period.
12. In the event that users sustain harm or disruption due to persistent and repeated hostile or malicious activities originating from another user, ULAKBİM shall, upon the formal request of the Signing Party or any affected user, be obligated to enforce the aforementioned restrictive and mitigating measures.
13. The Signing Party explicitly acknowledges and agrees that ULAKBİM may amend this Acceptable Use Policy to reflect evolving regulatory frameworks and legal advancements within the sector; ULAKBİM retains the unilateral right to modify its policy and agreement at any given time. The amended agreement shall enter into force immediately upon its publication at the URL address: http://www.ulakbim.gov.tr/dokuman/kullanimpolitika.uhtml.