The Albanian government has decided to ban access to TikTok for one year. The official announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Ogerta Manastirliu, following a government meeting held this Wednesday.

According to the minister, the Council of Ministers has decided to temporarily suspend access to TikTok in Albania, with the ban set to last for 12 months.

Manastirliu stated that this decision was made in the interest of child protection and public safety in the digital environment.

The restriction on TikTok access will be implemented by the National Cybersecurity Agency within a short period of time, expected to take a few days or up to a week.

“We have analyzed the effects of these platforms, especially concerning children’s health and cases of physical violence. The working group involved all relevant authorities, considering the most critical factors. As a result, we have recommended the closure or restriction of TikTok access for a 12-month period, allowing us to take further measures. Additionally, we have initiated communication with TikTok to implement stricter content filters that prevent the promotion of harmful behavior,” said Manastirliu.