With a growing internet population, Albania has been one of the candidates for joining the European Union since 2014. However, the country had to make several changes in order to qualify for a potential membership. Cultural changes always take time to make an impact, so changing the country’s view on online censorship or online data protection legislation was not as easy as it seems. Journalists have reported self-censorship in the media, and political and economic factors may be at fault. Data Protection legislation, however, is well developed, being based on the same principles as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Albanian netizens are therefore able to browse online with respectable security and can enjoy streaming services, even though the quality of the internet service is still lackluster.
With a population of almost three million people, Albania has been one of the emerging countries when it comes to internet. It has 65.8% internet penetration, which is more than Italy and Greece. Such growth has reflected itself on a range of fields, such as media. It has been noted that over the last years, journalists and readers have moved from print and television to online media. Although this shift has occurred, there’s still no legislation in place for online media, despite the government’s efforts in that area.
Not many internationally-known streaming services are available in Albania, however the country has a diverse offering to make up for that. DigitAlb is the most popular digital TV platform with over 70 channels in almost 15 different categories. Their content includes films, native and international channels, and radio as well. SuperSport is very popular amongst the population since its 12 television sports channels are broadcasted live and in full HD and, interestingly, some of the games can be watched in 3D.
Additionally, ShqipTV, an IPTV service, gives you access to 25 Albanian channels. The service is already available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand but may be of interest to natives living abroad.
Although it isn’t part of the member list yet, Albania has been a candidate for joining the European Union since June, 2014. Therefore, the principles applied to the Albanian online privacy laws are similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that the E.U. has in place. According to Deloitte’s 2016 International Comparative Legal Guide to Data Protection, the key principles that apply to the processing of personal data are Transparency, Lawful basis for processing, Purpose limitation, Proportionality, and Retention. Additionally, individuals have the right to access their personal data, request correction and deletion, object to its processing, and object to marketing purposes. Users can also complain to the relevant data protection authorities. Essentially, browsing the internet using an Albanian location can be considered a safe experience since the country has Data Protection principles and legislation in place.
There is little to no internet censorship in Albania. There hasn’t been any report of government monitoring individuals’ internet browsing, emails, social media, or chat rooms, as the right to freedom of speech is stated in the Constitution. Therefore, Albanians can freely browse online, use social media, and give their opinions regarding whatever subject they want to address.
However, the relationship between the Albanian government and the media has been turbulent for the past years. Government officials have often accused reporters of making defamatory statements. As a result, journalists are frequently the object of hatred from government supporters. Such retaliation has happened both online and offline.
Additionally, it has been noted by Balkan Investigate Reporting Network on their “Report on Self-censorship in the Albanian Media“, that journalism is very biased in Albania. Journalists have mentioned that certain topics are to be avoided when writing a story. News regarding politics, crimes, and economy are often sidestepped because of the political parties involved, the financial status of the media company, or even the journalist’s own safety.
Furthermore, the government has been trying to pass laws, that in various degrees, can be considered a threat to media coverage. For instance, the first amendment of the proposed legislation tasks the agency overseeing the communications with keeping a register of online media. The second amendment requires the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority to ensure that online media does not publish content that may damage public morale or incite penal offenses. Such requirements have angered various organizations who claim that this legislation could do more harm than good to online media and could potentially degrade the public’s access to information.
While the country has high internet penetration, online connection is still under-developed. Connections may be slow at times, making it impossible for users to enjoy surfing the web. With a still-developing web environment, not many streaming devices are available in Albania. Netflix was one of the first popular services in this category to invest in the country but other international players like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Prime have neglected the potential of the Albanian market. Although internationally-known services are scarce in Albania, the country has a diverse range of IPTV and Digital TV services accessible. DigitAlb, Supersport, and ShqipTV are some of them, offering entertainment in different areas, such as films, series, music, and news.
And even though Albanians enjoy native content, they often overcome geographic boundaries to access internationally-known applications by using VPN software. Using VPN software is legal in Albania and, besides giving access to content available in other countries, it may also be an alternative to what can be classified as a still-disappointing internet quality service.
NordVPN has already managed to conquer the market by being one of the most reputable and trustworthy services ever made. Among its vast arsenal of features, the close attention given to security is one of the major highlights, thanks to the presence of an automatic kill switch, protection against DNS leaks, ads and malware, and even double VPN servers.
Speaking of which, these are only some of NordVPN’s special servers that compose a global network filled with unusual locations, P2P countries, support for Onion over VPN, and more. NordVPN has a handful of different subscriptions in the form of simple apps for all kinds of devices and user types.
For as little as $3.99 per month, users can enjoy all the perks of having a secure and high-speed VPN. Plus, a generous refund policy allows you to get your money back if you decide NordVPN isn’t for you during the first 30 days.
With an extensive server network spanning 105 countries, apps for all major platforms, and even extra security tools like an ad blocker, ExpressVPN delivers all you need for a private and secure online experience.
The software is easy to use across all devices, and the speed trumps many of its competitors, making it one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Android and iOS customers can make the most of a 7-day free trial with unlimited bandwidth and everyone can enjoy three months for free when opting for annual billing.
VPN services are a lot like the spirits of the dead. When done properly, they’re hard to detect, aren’t restricted by physical boundaries and – as is the case with friendly ghosts – can even protect you from danger. CyberGhost is a German company now residing in Romania, offering a great VPN service for all types of user profiles. It has paid careful attention to safety concerns since it debuted in 2010, hiding torrent practices in untraceable servers and special security settings, while still being suitable for those that simply want to surf anonymously on public Wi-Fi or unblock geo-restricted websites comfortably at home. As a package that shouldn’t stay invisible to anyone considering a VPN service, CyberGhost’s short and long-term subscriptions will tempt anyone to discover the service’s simple and very attractive apps that have customizable features to ensure everyone has the best experience on computers, mobile, and other devices.
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