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Albania's highest court says one-year ban of TikTok was unconstitutional
The court ruled the ban violated constitutional rights despite safety concerns after a fatal stabbing; 88% of Albanians reportedly learned about VPN use during the ban.
- Albania's Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the government's one-year TikTok ban was unconstitutional, violating freedom of expression and the press. The court concluded the government had not "convincingly proven" the ban was necessary.
- Authorities imposed the ban last year following a teenager's fatal stabbing linked to a social media dispute. The government later cited new "safety mechanisms" implemented by TikTok before the ban expired on February 5, 2026.
- In practice, the restriction proved difficult to enforce as users bypassed it via VPNs. Esmeralda Plori, a 21-year-old communications student, called the ban "absurd," saying she was "grateful to the government for enabling 88 percent of Albanians to learn what a VPN is."
- Prime Minister Edi Rama criticized the ruling on X, writing the court "thinks that 90 percent of Albanian parents and teachers were wrong" about the ban. He added the government reopened TikTok after the company took additional measures.
- The Albanian Journalists Association representative Isa Myzyraj praised the ruling as an "important development for the protection of democratic standards." Global scrutiny persists, with the European Union warning ByteDance-owned TikTok's "addictive features" could harm users, mirroring restrictions in Australia.
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The verdict was described as an important step in protecting democratic standards in Albania.
The one-year ban imposed by the Tirana government on the TikTok platform, which expired last month, was unconstitutional and violates freedom of expression, the Constitutional Court of Albania has ruled.
·Romania
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After fatal stabbing: Albania TikTok ban violated free speech, court rules
·Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 27%
C 60%
13%
Factuality
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