The decision to close TikTok goes to the Constitutional Court/ DW: The application continues to be used for campaigning!

Representatives of the Albanian Journalists Association, Birn Albania and the Center for Legal Empowerment submitted on Tuesday (25.03.) the request to repeal the decision of the Council of Ministers to close TikTok.

The Albanian government decided on March 6 to close the popular platform. "The decision to completely close TikTok is an extreme and unjustified step that violates the freedom of expression, information and economic freedoms of citizens,"  said the Head of the Albanian Journalists Association (AGSH), Isa Myzyraj, in front of the Constitutional Court building.

According to Myzyraj, legitimizing such a decision would bring "a dangerous precedent of digital censorship, which could later pave the way for the closure of other social networks."

The ban on the app was justified in the Albanian government's decision on the grounds that uncontrolled content could have negative effects on the psycho-emotional health of children. Lawyer Franc Terihati, also head of the Center for Legal Empowerment, said that the closure should be a last resort.

 "Principles and rights can only be limited based on public interest, this is not proven with facts in the VKM. Even if the public interest is violated, the restriction must occur in a limited manner,"  the lawyer said.

Opposition claims of pre-election censorship
 
Immediately after the government's decision, the National Cyber ​​Security Authority asked internet companies to take measures to block access to TikTok on Albanian territory. This included blocking the relevant IP addresses and DNS servers associated with the application.

Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the decision to close the Tik Tok platform was taken by the government after extensive consultations with parents and teachers.  "A decision taken in extensive consultation with 65 thousand parents and teachers and after the necessary technical capacities were established," Rama wrote on the X platform.

However, the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, called this act censorship ahead of the general elections, which will be held in May. "It is an act of revenge by Edi Rama against the criticism made by young people,"  said the leader of the Democrat Party, who also called for a protest against the closure of TikTok, which was held in the square in front of the Prime Minister's Office on March 13.

TikTok continues to be used for campaigning

An observation conducted by Qëndresa Qytetare, an organization that monitors parliamentary elections, has found that the Tik Tok platform continues to be used in Albania for electoral purposes.

 "Not only opposition representatives, but also district leaders or potential candidates from the Socialist Party are using this platform to campaign," says Rigels Xhemollari, head of the organization.

 "They continue to use this social network to distribute materials that serve their campaign, even sharing videos with the prime minister himself,"  Xhemollari adds.

He says that all parties are taking advantage of this moment given that the closure of the Tik Tok platform has not yet been fully finalized throughout the territory of Albania./DW