Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to the government's decision to ban the TikTok platform in the country.
Through a post on the social media platform X, Rama announced that the decision to suspend access to TikTok for one year was made following extensive consultations with 65,000 parents.
Rama stated that the Albanian government is currently in discussions with the company, which is expected to visit Albania soon to present a series of measures aimed at enhancing child safety on the platform.
"The decision to temporarily ban TikTok is, first and foremost, a decision made in broad consultation with 65,000 parents and teachers. Secondly, it is a decision made after the necessary technical capacities were established. Meanwhile, we are engaged in a highly positive dialogue with the company, which will soon visit Albania to present both a series of measures to increase child safety— including in the Albanian language— and some innovations that will serve educational purposes and studies," stated Rama.
The government's decision has sparked debates, with some supporting the move as a necessary step to protect children, while others criticize it as an excessive restriction on digital freedoms. The outcome of discussions between the Albanian government and TikTok will likely determine whether and how the platform will be reinstated in the country.