Albania’s government has decided to lift a yearlong ban on the social media platform TikTok, making the app once again accessible across the country, according to a decision approved on Wednesday by the Council of Ministers, local media reported Wednesday.

TikTok had been blocked nationwide since March 2025. Under the new decision, the National Authority for Cybersecurity (AKSK), in cooperation with relevant regulatory bodies, has been tasked with implementing the removal of technical measures that restricted access to the platform.

Prime Minister Edi Rama had previously said the shutdown would be temporary and that TikTok would be reopened once an agreement was reached with the Chinese-owned company on the introduction of content filters, particularly to protect minors. Authorities say such a plan has now been finalized, though details on the specific safeguards to be implemented have yet to be made public.

The government’s initial decision to block TikTok followed the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy, Martin Cani, by a peer after a dispute that began on social media. The move was widely consulted with parents and teachers and was justified at the time as a measure to address public safety and social concerns in the digital space.

With the ban lifted, TikTok is expected to be accessible again to approximately 1.5 million users in Albania. Officials acknowledged that some users had continued to access the platform during the ban through virtual private networks, or VPNs.

The Council of Ministers formally repealed its March 6, 2025 decision that imposed the temporary restrictions, citing progress in addressing digital security, public safety and child protection concerns in line with existing legislation.