Prepared by: Festim Rizanaj
Misleading and unverified content were the main categories of misinformation that dominated over the past week, both on social media and in traditional media.
The fraudulent content was published in phone messages and on Facebook. A suspicious SMS in Albanian was distributed claiming that a postal item could not be delivered, including a suspicious link. Meanwhile, photos of graffiti with the inscription “Prime Minister Hajvan” were published on several Facebook pages, but verifications showed that they were generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Unverified content was published on Telegram and on a TV show. On Telegram, Serbian activist Aleksandar Aresnijevic and the Serbian-language channel “Bunker” published footage and claims that six young Serbs were arrested without reason in North Mitrovica, while Kosovo Police reported that they had attacked police officers in a drunken state. On the show “Pressing” on T7, panelist Dardan Islami claimed that the US military base in Greece would be closed, referring to media reports. However, this statement was denied by Donald Trump, who rejected claims of a military withdrawal from Greece.
The conspiracy theory was published on Telegram by the Serbian channel “BUNKER” on February 21. The post claimed that the perpetrators of the robbery of a church in Cërnica, Gjilan, were Albanians and that they had taken items worth around 900 euros. However, research conducted by hibrid.info showed that the identity of the perpetrators has not yet been confirmed.
The manipulation of facts was published by the Serbian media outlet Kurir.rs, which reported that the US is threatening Kosovo with the severance of bilateral relations after the closure of Serbian social care centers in the north. However, the statement of the US Embassy in Kosovo only expressed concern about this action, emphasizing that it could have harmful consequences for citizens and bilateral relations, but did not mention or suggest their severance.
The error was published on several portals, claiming that the first Albanian Primer was published 128 years ago, referring to the year 1897. In fact, the publication took place in 1879, i.e. 146 years ago.
Disinformation was published on TikTok claiming that the Kosovo Government had approved the allocation of 100 euros for pensioners and children. Verification showed that the news was old and republished as new.
Conspiracy theory
A Telegram post claims that the perpetrators of the robbery of a church in Cërnica, Gjilan, are Albanians, who took items worth around 900 euros. This claim was published on the Telegram social media by the Serbian-language channel “БУНКЕР” (BUNKER) on February 21. After online research by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that the perpetrators of this crime are still unknown. (here)
Lies
A text message (SMS) is being distributed to phones in Albanian that says “Your mail cannot be sent because no one is home.” The message includes a link and instructions on how to open it. However, findings indicate that this message is suspicious. (here)
Photographs of graffiti in the form of a mural have been published, with the inscription "Prime Minister Hajvan". These photographs were found published on several Facebook pages. Hibrid.info has detected through several platforms that these photographs were generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). (here)
Manipulation of facts
Serbian medium Kurir.rs has reported that the US is threatening Kosovo with the severance of bilateral relations after the closure of Serbian social care centers in the north. In its statement, the US Embassy in Kosovo expressed concern about this action, stressing that it could have harmful consequences for citizens and bilateral relations. However, no part of the statement mentions or suggests the severance of US-Kosovo relations. (here)
Unverified content
Six young Serbs were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday in North Mitrovica. Serbian activist and politician Aleksandar Aresnijevic published footage of the arrest and a conversation with one of the young men, who claims that the detention was unnecessary after a minor dispute. The Serbian Telegram channel “Bunker” also published a video claiming that the arrest was without reason. Meanwhile, Kosovo Police stated that the young men, in a drunken state, had attacked three police officers, who then sought medical treatment. They are suspected of the criminal offense of “Assault on an official person”. (here)
In the debate show "Pressing" on T7 television, broadcast last night on February 25, it was claimed that the US military base in Greece will be closed. This claim was made by one of the panelists, Dardan Islami, referring to media reports, according to which the base in question has been closed. However, this statement has been denied by Donald Trump himself, who has refuted reports that speak of a US military withdrawal from Greece. (here)
error
Some portals have published the claim that the first Albanian language primer was published 128 years ago, linking this to the publication of the "Alphabetares së gjuhës shqipe" on February 27, 1897. However, after verifying the facts, it has been found that this publication occurred in 1879, which means that the "Alphabetares së gjuhës shqipe" was published 146 years ago. (here)
disinformation
Through a TikTok post at the end of February, it was claimed that the Government of Kosovo had made a decision to allocate 100 euros to pensioners and children up to the age of 16. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that the news is old, which was republished, apparently, with the intention of presenting it as a current decision by the Government of Kosovo. (here)