A court in Antalya has sentenced former opposition mayor Kara to more than 46 years in prison on charges of corruption, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization. Removed from office and expelled from the CHP party, his case adds to that of other prosecuted political figures, such as former Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. His arrest sparked massive protests across Turkey.
How blockchain technology could prevent municipal corruption 🛡️
Distributed ledger systems like blockchain offer transparency in public contracts and financial movements. Each transaction would be sealed on the network, impossible to alter without consensus. Artificial intelligence tools can also detect anomalous patterns in tenders or fund diversions. Implementing these technologies in city councils would reduce the opacity that facilitates crimes like those attributed to Kara, where manual account control allows money flows to be hidden.
The new app for mayors: how to steal without leaving a digital footprint 📱
After seeing Kara's case, some politicians might wonder if there is an app to manage bribes without evidence. For now, the market offers nothing so sophisticated; the closest thing is a calculator to split the loot among partners. But don't worry: if they use paper and pen, like the classics, at least they will avoid being exposed by a blockchain. Manual corruption remains trendy.