During 2025, near the platform "iSIGURT.al"615 reports of online incidents were recorded. Data from the National Center for Safer Internet at CRCA Albania shows a 46% increase compared to the previous year.
According to statistics compiled by the platform manager, Borjana Dine, the trend is constantly increasing: from 93 reports (2021), to 150 (2022) and then 244 (2023).
The month with the fewest cases remains August, a period associated with summer vacations and more limited use of networks by children.
About 71% of incidents were reported by girls and 23% by boys, while 6% of reporters did not state their gender.
“This […] shows thatev"Women are reporting almost three times as many incidents as men while surfing online," It is emphasized in the main findings, while underlining that a total of 413 girls and 141 boys reported.
Another growing trend is the targeting of certain groups of children, which accounts for 13% of cases.
Among the cities, Tirana has the highest number of referrals, with 335 cases. Other cities with the most reports are Fier, Durrës, and Kukës.
As for the social platforms where the incidents occurred, according to data from "iSIGURT.al"Tik-Tok leads with 82% of cases, followed by Instagram with 9% of cases and Facebook with 7% of cases."
"From March 16 (the day TikTok was shut down) to December 31, 208 reports and 337 URLs have been received by iSIGURT.al. This shows that TikTok was never shut down in Albania.", it is stated in the presented findings.
According to Altin Hazizaj from CRCA, bullying between children and adolescents has become the most common form of online violence.
It is followed by blackmail, threats and hate speech, while sexual violence remains widespread, but less reported compared to previous years.
Hazizaj warned Citizens.al that constant exposure to harassment and inappropriate content is normalizing violence for minors.
According to him, children and adolescents, becoming "normalized" with various forms of violence and sexual harassment, begin to consider them as part of everyday life on the internet.
"Let's not forget that in Albania adult pornography is watched without any obstacles and this further normalizes violence against children, including sexual violence," Hazizaj added further.
Digital violence on the rise, law in short supply
The State Police confirmed to Citizens.al that the number of cases referred has increased in the last five years: 122 cases (2021), 127 (2022), 258 (2023), 461 (2024) and 439 (2025).
The cases include threats, blackmail, publication of intimate data, fake accounts, and hate speech.
However, Albania does not yet have a specific criminal offense for digital violence, otherwise known as technology-facilitated violence, however, according to the State Police the term ""online violence" USE "to identify behaviors carried out through digital means, social networks or computer systems."
In the absence of a direct provision, the authorities refer cases to “computer forgery” under Article 186/a of the Criminal Code.
"Currently, there is no specific criminal offense in the Albanian Criminal Code that directly addresses intimidation, online threats or exposure of individuals' intimate data. Under these conditions, the Directorate for the Investigation of Cybercrimes refers these cases to the criminal offense of 'Computer Forgery', provided for by Article 186/a.", it is stated in the State Police response.
According to the Police, the most frequent cases include threats and blackmail through social networks or communication applications, persistent online stalking and harassment, the creation of fake accounts using data or photos of other citizens, as well as insults, hate speech and violation of privacy in the digital space.
Asked about the categories most affected by online violence, the Police stated that those most affected by online violence are minors, girls and women, and journalists or media professionals.
Also Read:
- Digital violence against women on the rise, Albanian law does not address it
- Hate speech and online violence against children and youth on TikTok and Instagram is on the rise
- AWA Report: Hate Speech Against Journalists and Political Opponents on the Rise
Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
