ERRC Legal Complaint Exposes Digital Discrimination Against Roma & Balkan Egyptians in Albania
30 July 2026
Brussels, Tirana, 30 July 2026: The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) has filed a legal complaint arguing Albania's increasingly digital-only public administration system creates systemic obstacles for Romani and Balkan Egyptian people from effectively exercising their digital and personal data protection rights. The complaint is lodged with Albania's Commissioner for the Right to Information and Personal Data Protection.
"Digitization of public services in Albania means, for a lot of Romani and Balkan Egyptian families, that they can't actually get those services anymore. When you can't get online, you can't see a doctor, register your child for school, or apply for the benefits you're entitled to. Instead these families are forced to find a middleman who can fill out forms for them, for a fee. That means giving a stranger their ID, their login codes, their bank account information. Is that digital progress, or is it digital exclusion dressed up as modernization? We're telling the Albanian government: if you're going digital, make sure everyone can actually get online. Otherwise, you're not serving all your citizens, just the ones who can afford it," said Đorđe Jovanović, President of the ERRC.
The complaint addresses the E-Albania online platform, which became the primary access to public services after the government moved more than 95% of services online. Additionally, the platform is available only in Albanian and English languages, but not Romani.
The ERRC argues that Albania's digital transformation failed to account for the realities of Romani and Balkan Egyptian people. Many households lack reliable internet access, smartphones, computers, and other equipment necessary to access digital services or have limited digital skills to navigate complex online procedures.
As a result, many Romani and Balkan Egyptian people cannot access public services on their own. Instead, they are often forced to pay private intermediary offices to submit applications or communicate with public authorities. To do this, they have to hand over identity documents, passwords, bank details, and other sensitive personal information to third parties.
The ERRC argues that this dependence creates a serious threat to the protection of their privacy and personal data and increases the risk of unauthorised access, disclosure, misuse and other forms of unlawful processing. This also makes it much harder for many Romani and Balkan Egyptian people to exercise their digital rights under Albania's personal data protection law, including the rights to information, confidentiality and control over their personal data.
The ERRC asked the Commissioner to conduct a systemic investigation into whether Albania's digital public services are equally accessible to Romani and Balkan Egyptian people and whether they can exercise their data protection and digital rights in practice.
The ERRC calls for Commissioner to issue recommendations ensuring accessible support mechanisms and effective alternatives for individuals who cannot independently access digital services, including:
- Accessible support mechanisms such as in-person assistance for those unable to use digital services independently;
- Stronger safeguards against data protection risks arising from reliance on intermediaries;
- Accessible communication that accommodates people with limited literacy and digital skills.
Albania is committed to European standards and international human rights obligations. The ERRC urges the Albanian authorities to ensure that digital governance is implemented in compliance with non-discrimination, equal access to public services, and the effective protection of personal data for all citizens.
This press releaser is also available in Albanian.
For further information, or to arrange an interview please contact:
|
In English: Email: news@errc.org |
In Albanian: Email:m_veizi@yahoo.com |
