Clickbait articles are what have dominated the misinformation ecosystem over the past week in content published in real media, social media, and dubious portals.
Clickbait articles have been published on news portals related to the involvement of politics in the murder of Liridona Ademaj Murseli; about the punishments for refusing the population registration process; and about the dismissal of the coach of the football club, Balkani, Ilir Dajas.
Deceptive content was published on social networks and other platforms, which involved false advertisements for loans; as well as the distribution of a false link for the possibility of collecting donations for the Kosovo Security Force (KSF).
Clcikbait/Disinformation was assessed as an article published on social media warning of bad weather, but the news was old and related to the weather in Albania.
Unverified content has been published on social media and information portals, in one of the publications there was a photograph claiming to show the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, when he was young; a photograph of the city's decoration for the month of Ramadan claiming to have been taken in the German city of Frankfurt, which turned out to be London; as well as about the actions of the Special Court where it was claimed that Hajredin Kuçi's house was also raided, after that of Sylejman Selim.
The posting of a photo on social media claiming that the Russian state flag has been placed in the Zvecan Fortress has been assessed as unverified content/disinformation.
The reaction of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia and the political entity, Lista Srpska, published in the media regarding the action of Customs and Police against smuggled drugs in the north, has been assessed as a conspiracy theory.
Fake news has been published on social media with claims that the artist's son, Ardit Gjebrea, has passed away; and that Kosovo is building four military bases on the border with Serbia.
Disinformation related to the so-called "Yellow House" has been published in Serbian-language media.
Lies
A Facebook group called “Personal Loans” with over 2,600 members claims that all Albanian citizens who need money quickly and easily can apply through this group. In the “About” section, it is claimed that people interested in loans can apply only with an ID card or online directly from their phone or computer. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that this group publishes fake loan campaigns, taken from the “Personal Loans” page. (here)
A published link that aims to donate funds to the KSF security foundation is being considered suspicious. Hibrid.info has found the reaction of the Kosovo Embassy in the US and a statement by the Minister of the KSF, Ejup Maqedonci, which indicates that the only form for donations to the security fund established by the Government of Kosovo remains the bank account at the CBK. (here)
Clickbait
The information portal “Kosova-sot.info” has published an article titled “IN THE MURDER OF LIRIDONA ADEMAJ IS ALSO INVOLVED A CURRENT POLITICAL LEADER, OF HIGH POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS!?”. After verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the title of this article was taken from an opinion, but without making this fact clear. The title misleads the audience that in the case of Liridona Ademaj Murseli, a person with a high position in the country's organs is involved. However, the content makes it known that the article is based on an opinion of analyst Reshat Badallaj. “Kosova-sot.info” has not clarified in the title or in the photo that this is an opinion, trying to present it as news, while opinion is an individual opinion and is not always a fact. (here)
The ATV television has published a video material on its official YouTube channel, reporting under the title “Population census in the north, whoever refuses will be fined”. After verifying the facts, hibrid.info has confirmed that the title of this content is misleading, as it does not clarify that the population census will include the entire country, which is made known in the content of the video material. In the data section of the ATV website (here), this television is presented as a medium that reports on events from Kosovo, therefore reporting an event that is expected to occur throughout the country, as a specific event of a region of the country, in this case the north, may make the audience think that the fine will only include that part of Kosovo. (here)
The information portal "newsport.al" has published on its "Facebook" page an article titled "OFFICIAL/ Balkans dismisses coach after 2 successful years of cooperation". After verifying the facts, hibrid.info has confirmed that the title does not accurately clarify the content, since only the title of the article indicates that it is about one of the Balkans coaching staff, where it is stated that "Artim Pollozhani will no longer be part of the Balkans coaching staff". Based on some of the comments made in this publication on "Facebook", the failure to specify in the title that it is about the dismissal of one of the assistant coaches from the Balkans team has led some readers to think that the football club from Suhareka has parted ways with the head coach, Ilir Daja. (here)
The Albanian-language content portal “Sot.com.al” has published an article titled “Check in the apartment of the 65-year-old, the police are surprised by what they find”. In addition to the general title that does not clarify where the incident took place, this article shows that even the illustrative photo does not correspond to the content. The news is clarified only in the content, where it is announced that “Berlin police are surprised by what they found after the searches in the house of the arrested RAF terrorist, Daniela Klette. It is learned that during the operation an arsenal of weapons and gold were found in the apartment”. (here)
Clickbait/Disinformation
The Facebook page “Live News” has published an article titled ““Stay alert…”/ Flood ALARM is issued, here are the areas and cities at risk”. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the article is about the weather forecast in Albania and that it is old. So, the page in question has published an article about the weather forecast dated October 26 of last year, which it presented as current. (here)
Unverified content
The information portal “Ntv.al” has published on its official Facebook page a post claiming that one of the photos shows the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, at a young age, together with his now wife Brigitte Macron. In the caption of this image, this information portal claims that together with these two, Brigitte’s ex-husband, Andre-Louis Ozier, is also seen. After verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the photo is edited and that in the original one, instead of Macron’s face, the image of a woman is shown. The same image has been verified by the fact-checking platform from France “CheckNews”, of the newspaper “Liberation”. (here)
The Albanian-language Facebook page “Bota Islame” has published an image of a space decorated for the month of Ramadan. While the caption claims that “#Frankfurt welcomes #Ramadan”. However, after fact-checking by hibrid.info, it was found that this claim is not true since the photo was taken last year in the city of London and not in Frankfurt. (here)
Several Albanian-language news portals have reported that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers have launched several operations in Kosovo. These reports stated that an operation was being carried out at the home of former KLA leader Sylejman Selimi and former Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi. However, Kuçi himself later denied that his home had been targeted by the Specialist Chambers, explaining that he had had contact with them regarding his work as an advisor to the defense team of Kadri Veseli, who is on trial in The Hague. (here)
Unverified content/Disinformation
The Albanian-language Facebook page “Jepi zë” published on March 3 several images showing a flag hanging on an object. Through the caption attached to the published images, it is claimed that the flag of the Russian state has been placed in the Zveçan Castle. However, after verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that this claim is not true and that in fact the flag placed in the Zveçan Castle is of Serbia. (here)
Conspiracy theory
The Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia and the political entity, the Serbian List (Lista Srpska), have published a statement regarding the action of the Customs and Police against smuggled medicines in the north. In the case in question, these two institutions have opposed this action, describing it as an “anti-Serbian action”. After verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the action was carried out on suspicion of smuggling medicines and medical products. (here)
Fake news
A YouTube channel called "Interesting Facts" published on March 2 a video titled "TRAGJEDI! Ardit Gjebrea's SON dies". After verifying the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the claim in the title is false. While the content talks about the death of a close person of the friend of the Albanian singer, Ardit Gjebrea. The content of the video does not mention any specific name, which could further clarify who it is about. Hibrid.info, researching the official profiles on the social media of the singer Gjebrea, has not found any information that speaks of the death of any person close to him. (here)
A TikTok account named “lajm.info” has published a video with the caption that claims that “Kosovo is building four military bases on the border with the enemy”. Based on Kosovo’s relations with the countries it borders, hibrid.info estimates that the country the author of the publication referred to as an enemy is Serbia (here). However, hibrid.info’s research has not found any data that supports the claim published by this account. Based on the comments in this publication, hibrid.info estimates that this claim presented can be taken as true by the audience. (here)
disinformation
Several Serbian-language media outlets have published an article reporting on the visit of Serbian Orthodox priest Dimitrije Marković to the so-called “Yellow House” in Albania. These media outlets, describing the position of priest Marković, have reported his unfounded claims about organ transplantation of Serbian citizens during the war in Kosovo. However, the fact that the “Yellow House” existed and that organ trafficking operations were carried out has never been proven. Priest Marković’s claims about the existence of traces for the alleged trafficking of organs of Kosovo Serbs are not substantiated. (here)