Democratic Party’s protest against TikTok ban draws low turnout and political missteps
The Democratic Party (DP) staged a protest on Saturday against the government’s decision to block TikTok in Albania. Initially planned as a nationwide demonstration, the event fell far short of expectations, with low turnout and organizational issues. Despite the presence of DP leader Sali Berisha and other senior party officials, attendance was visibly weak. Adding to the disorder, individuals unrelated to the cause took the stage to deliver religious messages, further diluting the protest’s message.
Why is this important: The protest was meant to challenge censorship and restrictions on free speech, but the low turnout and mismanagement raise questions about DP’s mobilization capacity. Additionally, Berisha’s contradictory rhetoric—condemning the TikTok ban as censorship while simultaneously praising Donald Trump for shutting down Voice of America and Radio Free Europe—further complicated the message. His political missteps, including urging children to skip school to protest a platform they are not legally allowed to use, also hurt the event’s credibility.
Context: On March 13, the Albanian government began restricting access to TikTok, citing concerns over national security and child safety following the tragic killing of a 14-year-old student in Tirana. However, despite the official ban, TikTok remains partially accessible in Albania:
Mobile app: Still operational for most users.
Web browsers: Access blocked on desktop and mobile browsers.
VPN use: The National Cybersecurity Authority (AKSK) is working to prevent users from bypassing the ban.
Official clarification: AKSK confirmed that March 13 was not the final deadline for the ban’s full enforcement, but rather a phase in the blocking process, which is still ongoing.
What happened: Despite Berisha’s efforts to frame the protest as a youth-led movement, the turnout was notably weak. The lack of student participation was particularly striking, especially after Berisha’s public call for schoolchildren to skip class in response to the ban. The absence of major opposition figures beyond DP’s core leadership further weakened the event’s impact.
Adding to the controversy, Berisha told a 10-year-old boy at the protest that he would immediately unblock TikTok on May 12 if PD won the elections. This political promise to a child drew criticism, particularly since TikTok restricts users under 13.
What was said: During the protest, Berisha strongly opposed the government’s move against TikTok, calling it a dangerous act of censorship. However, he simultaneously defended Trump’s decision to shut down Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, calling it a necessary geopolitical move.
He also suggested that a future PD-led government could shut down Albania’s public broadcaster (RTSH), arguing that it would not constitute censorship, but rather an anti-censorship measure:
“The closure of Voice of America is a matter of global geopolitics. Some believe its spending should be cut or that it should avoid unnecessary propaganda. The same could happen with RTSH. But that is not censorship, because citizens will still receive information. It is a public entity, and it can continue.”
What’s next: While the government stands firm on the one-year TikTok ban, the technical enforcement remains incomplete, and users are still accessing the platform through alternative means. The Democratic Party’s unsuccessful protest and Berisha’s missteps raise concerns about his ability to mobilize young voters, particularly those affected by the TikTok ban.
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