TIRANA, April 20 – The Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) and the Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (AKEP) has asked internet service providers in Albania to restrict access to a number of websites, including online blogging platform ‘Medium’. Based on an official request published by ‘InfoMedia Albania’, AMA and AKEP have given order to internet service providers in Albania to block a total of 25 websites upon the request of Albanian actor Ermal Mamaqi.
According to the letter, the websites, have illegally streamed two of Mamaqi’s films. However, instead of blocking the specific web pages which contain the illegal broadcasting of the movies, AMA and AKEP have requested a full ban on the websites. This includes the Medium site which primarily serves as a blog a host as well as a ‘social journalism’ platform where authors and journalists may publish and share their own work with the audience.
The letter was allegedly sent within the same day that Mamaqi reported his complaint. The move comes only a few days after AKEP banned several websites containing explicit content upon the request of an Albanian journalist.
In December of last year, the Albanian Parliament approved two draconian laws as part of the ‘anti-libel’ package, which empower the Albanian Media Authority (AMA) and the Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications to hear complaints about news websites, demand retractions, impose fines of up to 1 million leke and suspend their activity.
Dozens of journalists, representatives of various media organizations, as well as representatives of civil society and political parties protested the ‘anti-libel package’, claiming that the government is setting up censorship institutions and is trying to crack down on free speech.
