During the period 26–31 October 2026, Hibrid.info addressed nine pieces of misinformation content, assessed as fraud, fake news, disinformation, manipulation of facts, clickbait and error. Two analyses were also published this week, which addressed the impact of headlines on the interpretation of news and the reasons why black news content attracts public attention.
Some of the verified content related to images that attributed unfounded statements to public figures, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Jason Steinbaum, former advisor to US Congressman Eliot Engel. Also addressed were claims related to developments in Kosovo, including arrests in Istog and the claim that the KSF is preparing to be sent to the north of the country.
Lies
An image created with artificial intelligence (AI), imitating the Klan Kosova news format, claimed that Prime Minister Albin Kurti had called on Serbs displaced in 1999 to return to Kosovo, collect their passports and claim their properties. Verification showed that the image was created with AI, while the statement was not found in credible sources or on the Klan Kosova website. The content was rated as “Fraud” (see here).
Another unverified claim, published on TikTok, attributed to Kurti an official request for the unification of Kosovo with Albania. The publication was accompanied by an AI-generated image, where the prime minister appeared at a podium, creating the impression that he had made a public statement on the issue. Verification found no evidence for such a request, while Hive Moderation assessed the image with a 99.9% probability of being created by AI. The content was assessed as “Fraud” (see here).
disinformation
Two Serbian-language publications, from the media outlet “B92” and the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, claimed that the Kosovo Police had arrested three Serbs in Istog, during an action described as violent, with the blockade of villages. The joint statement of the Kosovo Police and the Special Prosecution confirmed the arrest of two suspects, as part of the investigation into the “Padalishte Massacre” case. It did not confirm the claims about the blockade of villages and the described manner of the operation. The claims were assessed as “Disinformation” (see here).
Meanwhile, the Russian media outlet “politnavigator.news” published the claim that Kosovo is preparing to send the KSF to the north of the country, linking this to the increase in the number of members, investments in armaments and the receipt of new military vehicles. The article did not provide official evidence for the existence of such a plan. The announcements about the receipt of military trucks demonstrated investments in the KSF’s transportation and logistics capacities, but not preparations for deployment in the north. The claim was assessed as “Disinformation” (see here).
Clickbait
A piece of content published on Facebook by the page “Gazeta Minuti”, with the caption “BREAKING NEWS | The Special Court just made a new decision on Thaçi and others”, was deemed “Clickbait”. Verification confirmed that the information was accurate, but the decision of the Specialist Chambers concerned the publication of less redacted versions of the transcripts of the testimonies of ten witnesses, not the guilt or conviction of the accused. The title did not clarify the nature of the decision, while the phrase “BREAKING NEWS” presented the development as more urgent and potentially more important than the content implied (see here).
In another case, the portal “Lokalja.com” published an article with the headline that the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja, Lumturije Vuçetaj, had been dismissed from her position. However, the content of the article and the official announcement of the Kosovo Prosecutorial System confirmed that she had been suspended, while an investigative panel had been established against her as part of the disciplinary procedure. Since the suspension is a temporary measure and does not imply dismissal from the position, the publication was assessed as “Clickbait” (see here).
Fake news
An image was posted on Facebook attributing to Jason Steinbaum, former advisor to US Congressman Eliot Engel, a statement about Hashim Thaçi and the KLA, claiming that Serbia had won against the KLA in The Hague. The investigation found no evidence that Steinbaum had made these statements in the form presented. Although he had publicly criticized the Special Court, his statements in published opinions and interviews did not match the quote shared on social media. The claim was deemed “Fake News” (see here).
Manipulation of facts
A publication by the media outlet “KosovaPost.net” presented the monthly fee of 35 euros for accommodation and food for students in dormitories and canteens as an example of support for students by Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The verification confirmed that the amount consists of 20 euros for accommodation and 15 euros for food, but found that these fees stem from a decision of the Government of Kosovo, led by Hashim Thaçi, in April 2014. By not mentioning this context and by accompanying the publication with a photo of Kurti and the phrase “Learn from Albin Kurti”, the content created the impression that the fees were the result of his government’s policies. The publication was assessed as “Manipulation of facts” (see here).
error
The British media outlet “The Independent” published an article about political developments in Serbia, using a photo of the National Library of Kosovo in Pristina. Verification through the Getty Images platform confirmed that the photo depicted the National Library and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Pristina. In the article, the photo was accompanied by a description that related to the Students’ List’s claim that Kosovo remains an integral part of Serbia. Hibrid.info assessed this publication as “Error”, as the photo from Kosovo was used in the context of an article about Serbia (see here).
Analysis and narrative
This week, two analyses were published that addressed different aspects of the consumption and interpretation of media content.
In the analysis "The headline can be misleading even when the article is true”, addressed how headlines can create misleading impressions even when the articles contain accurate facts. Through examples and references to academic studies, the analysis explains how partial selection of information, leaving out context, and magnifying the scope of a development can affect readers’ interpretation.
Meanwhile, the analysis "Why do black news stories attract so many clicks?” examined the psychological and media reasons that influence public interest in tragic events. It addressed the tendency towards negativity and morbid curiosity, as well as how these tendencies can be exploited to increase clicks through headlines that arouse curiosity without providing key information.