The Constitutional Court of Albania has published the full, reasoned judgment on the temporary suspension of access to the social media platform TikTok, confirming that the measure violated freedom of expression and freedom of the press, SafeJournalists reports.

The decision, adopted on 11 March 2026 and now published in full, provides detailed constitutional reasoning on the limits of state intervention in the digital sphere and the standards applicable to restrictions on online communication.
Background of the case

The case concerns Decision No. 151/2025 of the Council of Ministers, which ordered the interruption of access to TikTok across Albania for up to 12 months. The measure was justified by the authorities as a temporary intervention aimed at addressing concerns related to harmful content, risks to children, and broader social impacts linked to the platform.

The case was brought before the Constitutional Court by the Association of Journalists of Albania and BIRN Albania. Although the government later repealed the measure, the Court proceeded with the review due to the public interest in clarifying constitutional standards for similar interventions.

In its reasoning, the Court reaffirmed that online platforms may function as spaces for communication, dissemination of information, and interaction with audiences. It found that restricting access to such a platform constitutes an interference with freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

The Court considered that the suspension of access to TikTok, applied to all users, directly affected the exercise of these freedoms.