The Chinese social network company TikTok has reacted to the Albanian government's decision to close Tik Tok in Albania for one year. The Associated Press reports that the company will seek urgent clarification from the Albanian government regarding the decision to close the TikTok platform.
TikTok, in an emailed response Saturday to an Associated Press request for comment, sought "urgent clarity from the Albanian government" on the case of the teenager who was stabbed to death. The company said it had "found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had a TikTok account, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed that the videos that led to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok," the Associated Press reports, also publishing a email response to a request for comment from the Chinese company.
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Saturday that the government will shut down the video service TikTok for a year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.
This decision followed the stabbing death a month ago of Martin Cani near Fan Noli school in mid-November by another teenager after a fight that started on TikTok.
The Albanian authorities conducted a month of consultations with teachers and parents after the stabbing death of Martin Can near the Fan Noli school.
Speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, Rama said that TikTok "would be completely closed to everyone. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania." Rama said the closure will begin next year.
Albanian children make up the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to local researchers.
There has been growing concern from Albanian parents following reports of children taking knives and other items to school to use in fights or bullying cases fueled by stories they see on TikTok.
Albania is too small a country to impose on TikTok a change in its algorithm so that it does not promote "the reproduction of the endless hell of hate speech, violence, bullying and so on", writes Rama's office in an email response to The Associated Press' request for comment. Rama's office said that in China TikTok "prevents children from being sucked into this abyss".
Authorities have put a number of safeguards in place at schools, starting with an increased police presence, training programs and closer cooperation with parents.
Rama said Albania will watch how the company and other countries react to the one-year shutdown before deciding whether to allow the company to resume operations in Albania.
Not everyone agreed with Rama's decision to shut down TikTok.
"The dictatorial decision to close the social media platform TikTok ... is a serious act against freedom of speech and democracy. It is a pure electoral act and abuse of power to suppress freedoms," Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa. (A2 Televizion)
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