In December 2024, following the tragic stabbing of a 14-year-old student in Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a one-year ban on TikTok, citing concerns over the platform’s role in inciting violence and bullying among youth. This decision has sparked significant debate within the country.
Critics argue that the ban may be politically motivated, especially with upcoming elections in May. Blerjana Bino, the researcher for the Safe Journalists Network, expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and legal justification for the ban. She emphasized that no official documents or reports have been published to support the decision, raising uncertainties about its legal basis and setting a potentially dangerous precedent for future limitations on other platforms. Bino also highlighted the absence of consultations with stakeholders beyond parents, noting that a decision with such a significant impact on freedom of expression necessitates extensive dialogue to prevent arbitrary actions.
Furthermore, Bino pointed out that a total shutdown of TikTok seems excessive, suggesting that more balanced methods could be employed to combat harmful content. She recommended increased cooperation with the platform to control such content, rather than an outright ban.
In response to the ban, TikTok stated that it found no evidence linking the perpetrator or victim to TikTok accounts and noted that reports indicated videos related to the incident were posted on another platform.
The ban has also raised concerns regarding Albania’s aspirations to join the European Union, with questions about the country’s adherence to EU standards on rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
In summary, while the Albanian government justifies the TikTok ban as a measure to protect youth from online harm, experts like Blerjana Bino caution that without proper legal grounding and stakeholder consultation, such actions could undermine freedom of expression and set concerning precedents for the future.
For more check out the original article from Fjori Sinoruka/BIRN
https://balkaninsight.com/2025/01/20/albanian-pm-under-fire-over-tiktok-ban-in-election-year/