The SafeJournalists Network has expressed concern over a growing number of unexplained restrictions and access problems affecting media outlets, activists and other public-interest voices on Meta’s platforms in Albania.
On 5 September, the official Instagram account of Euronews Albania, a private television and digital news outlet, and the Facebook page of independent media outlet Citizens.al became inaccessible without prior warning. Users attempting to access the Euronews Albania Instagram account were shown the message “user not found”. Both outlets said they had received no explanation from Meta for the restrictions. Citizens.al also noted that this was not the first time its Facebook presence had been restricted.
The cases come amid a broader and still insufficiently explained wave of account restrictions in Albania. Earlier this week, BIRN/Reporter.al documented the disappearance or restriction of dozens of Instagram accounts linked to activists, civic initiatives and people supporting or documenting ongoing protests. Citizens.al also reported cases of users losing access to their accounts, as well as repeated copyright complaints targeting protest-related photographs and videos.
SafeJournalists stressed that there is currently no public evidence that the restrictions affecting Euronews
Albania and Citizens.al are directly connected to the earlier cases. Nevertheless, unexplained restrictions on established media accounts represent a serious media-freedom concern, as they can disrupt the distribution of information and undermine pluralism and access to information, particularly when multiple public-interest voices are affected.
The organisation also highlighted the sensitive socio-political context in Albania, where journalists and media outlets covering protests and other issues of public interest continue to face pressure, hostile rhetoric and attempts at delegitimisation.
SafeJournalists is calling on Meta to urgently conduct a human review of the Euronews Albania and Citizens.al cases, provide both outlets with clear explanations for the restrictions, and restore access without delay if no legitimate violation of the platform’s rules has occurred. It is also urging Meta to investigate whether coordinated or malicious third-party reporting, including the misuse of copyright mechanisms, has contributed to account removals or restrictions. The company should ensure a fast and effective human-review and appeals process for media, journalists and other public-interest accounts.
“Platforms whose decisions can significantly affect the reach of journalism and public-interest expression have a responsibility to ensure that enforcement is transparent, proportionate and resistant to manipulation,” SafeJournalists said.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international stakeholders and continue to monitor the situation.
Sarajevo – Skopje – Pristina – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, September 6, 2026
Association of Journalists of Albania
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
