Albania wants to block Tiktok for one year - security measure or censorship?

Albania wants to block Tiktok for one year - security measure or censorship?

Tirana, Albanien - Albania plans to block access to the popular video platform TikTok for one year. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced this drastic measure after a fatal incident between young people, who was initiated via the platform, caused concern nationwide. According to Rama, technical preparations are to be made over the next six to eight weeks in order to make the platform inaccessible to the Albanians. He described Tiktok as a "crook in the district" and emphasized that children and adolescents in particular were endangered by the content. Rama was particularly critical of the differences between the content that is spread in China and those that can be found in other countries. According to him, there would only be “dirt and feces” on Tiktok in Egypt, which also fueled the discussion about the platform because it is perceived as a platform for violence and bullying. This reports Today.at .

reactions and protective measures

The decision follows the fatal examination of a 14-year-old student who lost life during a stabbing-the dispute was triggered by disputes in social media. Prime Minister Rama called for a complete shutdown of Tikkok in Albania and at the same time announced that his government wanted to implement further security measures in schools. These include increased police presence and training programs for prevention. Meanwhile, Tiktok doubts that the young people concerned used the platform and demanded clarity from the Albanian government regarding the incident. This reported Sky News .

The decision on the Tikok lock does not only meet with approval. Opposition politicians criticize them as an attack on freedom of expression, while similar measures against social media have already been taken in other countries. Despite the controversial, the Albanian government plans to capture this ban despite the possible circumvention options due to VPN connections. The TIKTOK ban is supposed to be part of a comprehensive strategy to protect children from the dangers of social media.