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The Albanian government has imposed a one-year ban on TikTok, citing concerns over the platform’s influence on young people. The decision has been criticized for its lack of transparency and its potential impact on freedom of expression, particularly in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections on May 11
Authorities blocked TikTok following a tragic incident in November 2024, when a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed outside a school in Tirana. Shortly after the attack, which allegedly involved two other minors, videos circulated online showing some teenagers expressing support for the killing.
In his first public appearance after the incident, Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the impact of social media on youth behavior, singling out TikTok and Snapchat for fueling violence and hate speech. He also announced restrictive measures, which were implemented in March.
The government’s decision to shut down TikTok followed consultations with around 1,300 parents and teachers across the country, with 90% reportedly in favor of the measure. However, both the decision and the consultation process have raised concerns.
The Chinese-owned company has requested further clarification from Albanian authorities, emphasizing that there is no evidence the two students involved had TikTok accounts and that the videos related to the case were posted on a different platform.
Despite TikTok’s strong presence in Albania, with 1.53 million users over the age of 18 at the beginning of 2024, there is no indication that government officials took platform data or statistics into account when making their decision. Furthermore, authorities have not released detailed reports or data from the consultations, leaving the rationale behind the ban unclear.
Several organizations have dismissed the consultations as superficial, arguing that they failed to include key stakeholders such as security and media experts and did not provide sufficient evidence to justify the ban.
Authorities have stated that the ban will remain in place until TikTok adopts stricter security measures, including enhanced moderation of Albanian-language content. However, questions remain about how and for how long the ban will be enforced, with some users reporting they can no longer access the app, while others have encountered no restrictions.
Between restrictions and protection, the risks to freedom of expression
The TikTok ban has sparked intense debate in Albania over how to balance protective measures with safeguarding rights and freedom of expression.
While acknowledging the risks posed by social media, the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, and several civil society organizations have voiced serious concerns over the Albanian government’s decision. They argue that "outright suspension of an entire platform significantly exceeds proportionality, impacting the legitimate expression of all users and restricting public debate and access to diverse sources of information”.
Association of Journalists of Albania (AJA) has also criticized the move, calling it a dangerous precedent that aims to curb freedom of expression through digital censorship. “Restricting platforms without addressing the root causes of online harm is not the answer,” AJA stated, announcing plans to challenge the ban before the Constitutional Court.
Journalist and AJA board member Osman Stafa told OBCT that such drastic measures are unlikely to address the broader issue of violence or hate speech. “Any form of censorship on social media severely harms freedom of expression, especially on platforms like TikTok, whose algorithm promotes content beyond a user’s follower network. Censorship has never been a solution, it would be like banning road traffic to reduce accidents,” Stafa remarked.
Political timing: a ban tailored for the elections?
The TikTok ban has raised questions about the real political motivations behind the decision. With parliamentary elections set for May 11, 2025, and Edi Rama’s Socialist Party seeking a fourth consecutive term, opposition forces and civil society groups see the move as a clear attempt to curb freedom of expression and silence critical voices.
Sali Berisha, leader of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), accused Rama of cracking down on what has become a crucial tool for political campaigns, arguing that the ban is designed to disadvantage the opposition ahead of the upcoming elections.
The Center for Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV), a Tirana-based think tank, has also strongly criticized the measure, warning of the risks of implementing such a decision during a pre-election period. "As such a decision takes place in a pre-election period, and will be enforced during the election period, it is important to exercise caution to avoid actions that may be interpreted as politically motivated or suppressive of free expression", SCiDEV stated in a press release .
Vladimir Karaj, editor at BIRN Albania, told OBCT that newly formed political parties in Albania, many emerging from civil society, have relied on TikTok for visibility, particularly given its popularity among young people. He suggested that the timing and weak justification for the ban indicate that the move goes beyond concerns about child safety.
"Violence in schools does not originate from TikTok, nor can it be solved with a ban. The students involved in the incident were using Snapchat, yet the Prime Minister has not called for a ban on it, likely because it’s not a platform used for political messaging”, Karaj noted.
Journalist Osman Stafa also believes TikTok has become a vital platform for opposition parties, which often struggle to gain visibility in Albania’s traditional media due to government influence.
"Both established and emerging parties face difficulties accessing traditional media, especially with elections just two months away. Edi Rama appears to be targeting TikTok because it is a platform he cannot control through conventional methods used on other media outlets, such as construction permits for media owners, to name just one example," Stafa said, predicting that the ban will likely be lifted after the elections, well before the 12-month period expires.
The global trend and the Albanian case
Albania’s decision to block TikTok aligns with a broader global debate on the role of social media platforms in amplifying harmful content, managing privacy, and influencing political processes.
In Europe, the focus has been on content moderation and child safety. Countries like France, Germany, and Belgium have introduced restrictions for minors, while Italy fined TikTok €10 million over inadequate content controls, particularly concerning child safety risks.
Some governments have also banned the app on official devices for cybersecurity reasons. In Romania, concerns have emerged over TikTok’s potential influence on the upcoming presidential elections.
However, Albania’s approach stands out from international trends. Unlike other countries, which have targeted specific risks or legal violations, the Albanian government has opted for an outright ban without citing concrete legal breaches by the platform, an approach that raises questions about the proportionality of the measure and its compliance with international standards on digital rights and freedom of expression.
Daniel Prroni, researcher and co-author of a recent study on Albania’s approach to digital platform regulation, told OBCT that the measure fails to address the real challenges of social media use and could even exacerbate them.
"Setting a precedent for government-imposed bans on digital platforms without tackling the root causes of the issues at hand is not a solution. Furthermore, experiences worldwide show that platform bans are easily circumvented, meaning that a significant portion of society will still have access to TikTok, while local institutions will be unable to hold the platform accountable or request the removal of problematic content," said Prroni.
Beyond the immediate effects, Prroni warned that Albania’s stance could also jeopardize its alignment with European Union regulations.
"As part of the EU integration process and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, Albania has already committed to complying with the EU’s Digital Services Act, a framework that offers fairer and more sustainable solutions. It strengthens user rights, establishes clear content moderation rules, and grants local authorities greater oversight. This is the direction institutions should be focusing on. It’s what is expected from a candidate country for EU accession," Prroni concluded.