Albania Bans TikTok for One Year

Albania has announced a year-long ban on TikTok, citing a need to curb youth violence following the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy, reportedly linked to online confrontations. Prime Minister Edi Rama defended the decision as a protective measure for young people, but critics, including rights groups and small business owners like Ergus Katiaj, warn it threatens free speech and commerce, particularly ahead of May elections. Katiaj, who relies on TikTok for marketing his delivery service, fears significant financial losses as the platform has been crucial for his business. The ban aligns Albania with a growing trend of restrictions on TikTok in over 20 countries due to concerns about harmful content and its ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Opponents of the ban argue it sets a dangerous precedent for political censorship in a country that has seen protests against government actions in the past year. TikTok has sought clarification from the government, asserting that the videos related to the incident were posted on another platform, not TikTok.