Tirana, 6 October 2025 – CRCA-ECPAT Albania announced today that it will propose to the Parliament of Albania the adoption of a new draft law for the protection of children and adolescents in the digital space. This draft law, the first of its kind in the country, aims to guarantee the protection, privacy, and safety of children and adolescents online, marking an essential step in addressing the risks they face every day on the internet.
Based on the best international practices and models — including the Brazilian Law on the Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents, the UK Online Safety Act, and the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) — the draft law sets new standards for online companies and platforms operating in Albania, both foreign and domestic. It aligns Albanian legislation with the most advanced European Union norms on the protection of children’s rights in the digital environment. The draft law has been developed by CRCA as part of the netSMARTkids Albania initiative, in cooperation with the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme.
According to CRCA/ECPAT Albania, the draft law is built around four key pillars:
a) Prohibiting children’s access to inappropriate, sexual, or violent content;
b) Requiring online platforms to establish effective age verification systems and strong parental control mechanisms;
c) Protecting children’s personal data through the “privacy by default” principle;
d) Imposing strong sanctions on entities that violate the law, including high fines and suspension of activity in cases of repeated violations.
“Albania urgently needs a legal framework that protects children and adolescents where they spend most of their time: online. This draft law is a major step toward ensuring a safe digital space for every child,” said Altin Hazizaj, Director of CRCA-ECPAT Albania.
In Albania, data from iSIGURT.al and other child protection organizations show a significant increase in cases of online harassment, abuse, and exploitation of children in recent years. However, the absence of a specific law on their protection in the digital space has hindered effective enforcement of preventive and protective measures.
The proposed draft law by CRCA/ECPAT Albania aims to close this legal gap by establishing clear obligations for public institutions and private operators that provide digital services. It also foresees the creation of a national monitoring mechanism for the protection of children online, in cooperation with the State Agency for the Rights and Protection of Children, the National Cybersecurity Agency, the Commissioner for the Rights of the Child, and civil society organizations.
CRCA/ECPAT Albania announced that the draft will soon be presented to the Parliament of Albania, following consultations and discussions with public institutions, civil society, and expert communities, who will contribute to its further improvement.
For more information, contact:
CRCA Albania
E-mail: crca@crca.al