The Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the Albanian Assembly, organised on 25 October, in Tirana, a national conference on Freedom of Expression Online. It summoned representatives from all levels of the Albanian judiciary, media and journalist organizations, the Commissioner for Access to Information and Data Protection Office, the Ombudsman’s Office, international organizations working in the field of media strengthening, and other civil society organizations. 

The purpose of the event was to assist/ guide the discussions and initiatives in Albania when it comes to regulation of online content as well as to media organisations to enhance the application of ethical code in online content.

Former Vice President of ECtHR, Judge András Sajó was the special guest speaker who discussed the initial jurisprudence by ECtHR relating to issues of freedom of expression online.  The discussions focussed on the legal considerations of online media content regulation and the double balancing act of freedom of expression and right to privacy while highlighting best European practices.

Silvia Grundmann, Head of Media and Internet Division in the Council of Europe introduced the draft recommendations on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries that the Council of Europe is currently preparing, while various models of regulation were discussed with emphasis on a combination of some government regulation while strengthening the application of the ethical code on the part of the media and other self-regulation mechanisms. 

Follow-up ideas were shared on how to encourage the legislature to look into regulation that protects freedom of expression while strengthening self-regulation within the journalistic profession.

The conference took place under the joint European Union/Council of Euorpe regional Project “Reinforcing Judicial Expertise on Freedom of Expression and the Media in South-East Europe (JUFREX)”.