In the first week of the year, the misinformation media ecosystem was dominated by articles categorized as "Clickbait".
The clickbait articles were about the allocation of 100 euros to pensioners, about secret agreements to remove barricades, and about events that had nothing to do with Kosovo.
In the first week, Minister Rizvanolli's satirical content regarding electricity saving was republished.
Serbian-language media manipulated facts about the illegality of Kosovo's independence and that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti had called on the Germans to wage war against the Serbs.
Unverified content related to the claim of Serbian President Vučić to withdraw recognition of Kosovo; as well as the reaction of Kosovo Assembly Member Duda Balje and women's rights activist Arta Avdiu regarding the incident that occurred on November 4 in Pristina, when a woman was found dead in the hallway of an apartment.
Misinformation about the transfer and increase in value of Kosovar footballer, Vedat Muriqi.
Clickbait
Doubtful portals have published an old news item from October 2022, which contains the proposal of the Government of Kosovo, which at that time had proposed the allocation of 100 euros to pensioners as part of the Inflation Response Package. These portals have published this old news item on January 1, 2023, claiming to present it as current. (here)
The dubious portal “news308media.com” has published Kurti’s interview with “KosovaPress.com”, in which he said that there was no secret agreement with Serbia to remove the barricades. However, this dubious portal has changed the title of this article, falsely claiming that Kurti has told about the secret agreement, implying that there was such an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to remove the barricades. (here)
The title of the article published by "Kosova-sot.info" does not state in which country this event occurred. While the news is clarified only in the content, where it is stated that the case in question occurred in the state of Utah in the USA. This information portal operates in Kosovo and its primary readers are from Kosovo, based on the followers of the Facebook page. Therefore, by not providing information about the country in question, this news could very easily misinform its readers, making them think that the event occurred in Kosovo. (here)
“Kosova-sot.info” has published an article regarding the execution of the former North Korean minister, while the title does not clarify where the event took place. 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 this event took place in Kosovo. (here)
Clickbait and Fraud
Doubtful portals have published an article claiming that the elderly woman who was physically attacked by several nurses a few months ago at the “Orenda” nursing home in Peja is “speaking for the first time”. However, the content of the article includes a video material published on November 3 by “Nacionale.com”, which contains statements from the directors of this nursing home. So, the video is old and there is no statement from the elderly woman, as falsely claimed in the title of this article published by these dubious portals. (here)
Satire
The Facebook page “Kosovalajm.net” has published a photo showing the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Kosovo, Artane Rizvanolli, and the caption “Get married before it gets cold”. This Facebook page has not disclosed that the content shared is satirical, thus leaving room for the shared content to be taken for granted by its readers. From the research conducted through online search engines, hibrid.info has managed to find this photo published on September 29, 2022 by the satirical website Breaking Bad Kosovo. (here)
Manipulation of facts
Serbian language media outlet “Informer” has published an article claiming that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called on Germans to wage war against Serbs, thus attempting to stir up tensions again. The claim is based on a statement Kurti gave to the German newspaper “Welt”. Kurti welcomed NATO’s decision to increase forces to maintain peace and security in Kosovo and the region, a responsibility that is carried by KFOR within NATO, and not to fight Serbs and raise new tensions as alleged. Kurti did not specifically invite German forces, but commenting on the possibility of sending 400 German emergency services by decision of the Bundestag, he said that they are welcome. (here)
Several Serbian-language media outlets have published an article with a statement by the Director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, in which he claims without evidence that Kosovo's independence is illegal. As an argument to refute the positions of Kosovo representatives on the legitimacy and legality of Kosovo's independence, he cites International Law and membership in the United Nations. According to the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), international law was not violated by the decision to declare Kosovo's independence on February 17, 2008. According to International Law, a state, in order to be sovereign, must have a permanent population, a defined territory, a government and the ability to enter into relations with other sovereign states. (here)
Unverified content
Kosovo Assembly Member Duda Balje and women's rights activist Arta Avdiu have reacted to the case that occurred on November 4 in Pristina, in which a woman was found dead in the hallway of an apartment. These two individuals have described this case as a "murder", thus concluding that it has not yet been determined by the Basic Prosecution Office or the Kosovo Police. The spokesperson for the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina, Laureta Ulaj, stated that according to initial information from the scene, the case involves a death under suspicious circumstances. (here)
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, does not provide official diplomatic information (diplomatic notes) to substantiate the claims made for the withdrawal of recognition. Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo has announced that there is no notification in the official diplomatic institutions of Kosovo for the withdrawal of recognition. Hibrid.info has researched the official websites of the ministries of foreign affairs of the states mentioned as withdrawing recognition of Kosovo and has not found any information or public statements about the withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo. (here)
disinformation
The Facebook page “Albania Team” has published an article regarding Muriqi’s performance in the match that his team Mallorca won last night (January 4) against the team Pontevedra. In the caption of this article, this page claimed that Muriqi’s value has increased to 40 million euros. After verifying the facts, this claim of this page is incorrect, as based on the player value platform “Transfermark”, it is said that Muriqi’s current value is 10 million euros, while the highest had reached 17 million euros, in December 2020, when the Kosovar striker was part of the Italian team Lazio. (here)
Doubtful portals have published an article about Kosovar striker Vedat Muriqi, whose services are being sought by Spanish team Atletico Madrid. However, in the headlines, these portals falsely claimed that Muriqi had been transferred to this team. (here)