Last week, the misinformation ecosystem in Kosovo was dominated by clickbait articles and unverified content. Clickbait articles about visa liberalization, about Vuk Jeremic's statement about Kosovo as a UN member, about Muriqi's return to Lazio. Unverified content about the movement of helicopters in the Gazimestan area, about tearing down the Serbian flag, about installing surveillance cameras in Serb-majority settlements, about Putin's mysterious briefcase.
Misleading article on the healing properties of nettles. Disinformation regarding a cyberattack on Albania, old news rehashed about the attack on the Albanian consulate in Ukraine, Vučić's old statements regarding Kosovo.
Conspiracy theory claiming that Pristina is preparing to attack Serbia
Unverified content
The Facebook page “Gazeta NewBorn” has published a video claiming that about 10 helicopters have been seen moving in the area of Gazimestan and Gracanica. However, in this 9-second video, only one aircraft is seen, and it is not known where it was shot, since the shooting was done at night. Also, such information has not been reported by any credible media in Kosovo. That this claim is not correct is shown by the fact that there is no information from KFOR regarding any operation or exercise by them, when it is known that this force is the only one that enjoys the right to use the airspace in the entire territory of Kosovo. (here)
The Deputy Mayor of Pristina, Donjeta Sahatçiu, has announced that from next year there will be reforms in public transport. One of them, according to her, will be an integrated ticket, payment by SMS and QR code. This announcement by Sahatçiu was published by the online medium “Kosova-sot.info”, claiming that from next year, citizens traveling with Urban Traffic will not pay with cash. However, Sahatçiu did not confirm this in her announcement, but that the same one only announced the new ticket payment options. (here)
The Serbian media outlet “Alo.rs” has published an article based on a statement issued by the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia regarding the tearing down and removal of the Serbian flag from the Monument to the Murdered and Kidnapped Serbs in Hoca e Madhe in Rahovec. This office, in connection with this event, makes unfounded claims that the perpetrators of this act, as they say, are Kosovo extremists, as an expression of hatred towards the Serbian community, instigated by official Pristina with the aim of expelling them from Kosovo. (here)
Several portals in Kosovo have published an article claiming that Putin, during a visit to a training center for reservists, had a nuclear bag with him. While the content states that it could be a nuclear bag. So, it is not known exactly what it contains. The British media outlet “TheSun”, in reporting on this event, has raised another dilemma whether the bag that resembles a “nuclear bag” could hold medical supplies for Putin. (here)
The Serbian daily “Informer.rs” has published an article claiming that Albanians are spying on Serbs in southern Kosovo with the aim of intimidating them, based on a news report about the installation of several “ownerless” surveillance cameras in Ranilug and Partesh. The Serbian newspaper is based on the news prepared by REL in which it is not known who is behind the installation of these cameras and that the citizens there do not feel worried. Despite this, the Serbian newspaper claims without evidence that the cameras were installed by Albanians to, as it writes, follow the Serbs at every step. (here)
Clickbait
Doubtful portals with content in Albanian have published an old story from 2019, of a mother in New South Wales, who had called on the state to take her two daughters, on the grounds that they consume tobacco and marijuana, and had threatened her with a knife. While these dubious portals, in the title, have falsely claimed that this mother has put her teenage daughters up for sale. (here)
The portal “Botasot.info” has published part of an authorial text by Vuk Jeremić, which predicts several events in the event that Kosovo is admitted to the UN. Meanwhile, in this article, this aforementioned portal has put the title “Jeremić: Kosovo in the UN”, implying that the former Serbian diplomat has declared such a thing, or that he is in favor of Kosovo’s membership in the UN. (here)
The aforementioned portals have published part of the interview of the Minister of Agriculture, Faton Peci, who in the Debat Plus show on RTV Dukagjini had spoken about the facilities belonging to this Ministry, which are used by the political headquarters. Peci had stated that the AAK headquarters in Ulpiana has a contract until 2023, and that he says that after its expiration, this party will not be able to stay with 2 euros per square meter (meaning a payment of 2 euros per square meter). Meanwhile, these portals, in the title, have given this statement a different direction by claiming that Peci has threatened Ramush Haradinaj with expulsion from the AAK headquarters in Ulpiana. (here)
The portals “Kosova-sot.info” and “Insajderi.org” have published a statement by Professor Valon Murtezaj, who expressed optimism that the final political decision on visa liberalization will be made in December. However, the titles of these articles do not clarify that this is an opinion. So, these titles only claim that “This is when the final decision on visas will be made” and “The final decision on visas is expected to be made this month.” (here)
The information portal "Insajderi.org" has published an article from the Italian medium "lalaziosamonoi.it", which states that some fans, through comments on the social network Instagram, have requested that Vedat Muriqi return to the Italian team Lazio. While "Insajderi.org" in the title of this article has hinted that the Lazio team has requested Muriqi's return. (here)
“Kosova-sot.info” has published an article regarding the high level of inflation in Croatia, while the title does not clarify which country it is referring to. This online medium is a portal that operates in Kosovo and that has the dominant number of readers from Kosovo, based on the page's followers on Facebook. Therefore, not providing information about the place of the event can very easily misinform readers, making them think that a news item is about some development in Kosovo. (here)
Lies
Doubtful portals have published an old article from 2016 about the healing properties of nettles, to which they have given a deceptive title with the claim that whoever finds the name of this plant will receive a reward of 300 and 500 euros. Based on the methodology of the work, hibrid.info evaluates this article as "Scam". (here)
disinformation
Doubtful portals have published an article taken from “Faxweb.al” about the possibility of the collapse of the TIMS system at Albanian border points as a result of a cyber attack. However, these portals have titled this article with the unfounded claim that “Albania is under attack again.” (here)
The dubious portal “news426media.com” has published an old article from 2021 with the claim of presenting it as current. The news was about a statement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, made in September last year (2021) regarding reciprocity for license plates. (here)
The dubious portal “news426media.com” has published an old article from March 2022 with the claim of presenting it as current. The news was about the attack on the honorary consulate of Albania in Ukraine, which was attacked by the Russian air force in March of this year. (here)
Conspiracy theory
The Serbian daily "Informer" has published an article claiming that Pristina is preparing to attack Serbia. The newspaper links the claim to the statements of the Russian ambassador to the UN, who said that Kosovo has requested long-range missiles from the West, and the statement of the Kosovo Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, who states that Serbia is preparing for military aggression. Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info classifies the claims of the Serbian media as "conspiracy theories". (here)