Albania blocks TikTok for one year for youth safety after a tragic incident

Albanian authorities have blocked TikTok for 12 months to protect young people after the murder of a 14-year-old boy. The decision drew criticism for restricting freedom of speech and possible censorship.

The year-long government ban on TikTok in Albania came into effect on Thursday, March 13, Reuters reports.

The ban followed the tragic incident in Tirana and was first announced by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama last December. The government initiated the ban on the Chinese platform after one teenager stabbed another to death following an argument that started on TikTok.

The decision to block TikTok was made after consultation with 65,000 parents and teachers to ensure the safety of children, including the Albanian language.

Minister of Education Ogerta Manastirliu said that Albania is in contact with TikTok to install parental control filters, check the age of children, and add the Albanian language to the app.

According to her, the authorities have held 1.3 thousand meetings with about 65 thousand parents who “recommended and advocated for the closure or restriction of the TikTok platform.”

It is now known that the Office of Electronic and Postal Communications has ordered the country’s Internet providers to block access to the application until midnight, suspending the use of the popular platform for the next 12 months. According to this decision, TikTok users in Albania are already experiencing difficulties with accessing the popular app.

At the same time, the company is in dialogue with TikTok to find solutions to enhance user security.

Meanwhile, the country considers this decision a manifestation of censorship. Isa Mizirai, head of the Albanian Journalists Association (AJA), said the group would take the case to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the ban restricts freedom of speech and constitutes censorship.