Last week, clickbait articles and unverified content dominated the media sphere in Kosovo. We had unverified content related to the claim that LVV officials were banned from obtaining ESTA; the physical harassment of Miodrag Miličević; the terrorist attack in Istanbul. Clickbait articles have mainly included old news that has been presented as current.
Disinformation regarding salaries at the German-Swiss investment factory in Prizren. Disinformation regarding the fact that all Albanians stood by Rada Trajković, regarding the declaration for the demilitarization of the Serbs of the north, and fake news that Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla is the daughter of Ramush Haradinaj.
Fake news regarding deaths (November 16) due to Covid; and a fabricated statement by US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier.
Unverified content
The dubious portal “GazetaNewborn.info” has published an article claiming that officials of the Vetëvendosje Movement were prevented from obtaining ESTA, which is a system that verifies people before they enter America. However, this is not true, as only countries that have visa liberalization with the US need to apply for ESTA, and Kosovo is not on this list. (here)
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Aktiv from North Mitrovica claims that their director, Miodrag Miličević, was exposed to “physical and verbal harassment” by a special unit of the Kosovo Police on November 14. The claim by the NGO Aktiv has gained ground in some Serbian media outlets with tendentious and unsubstantiated claims that the attack on Serbs is Kurti’s plan. This claim has been called untrue by the Kosovo Police and the Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, who said that the initial investigation found no evidence of the alleged mistreatment. (here)
Several portals in Kosovo have fallen prey to an unconfirmed Twitter account, which reported on November 15 that a terrorist attack with a car bomb had occurred in Istanbul. This post from this account was posted as a matter of course by several portals in Kosovo, without verifying it. (here)
The Albanian-language news portal “kosovapost.net” has published a news story claiming that the Turkish president has warned the Serbian president, Vučić, telling him not to play with fire. The article is based on a speech by Erdogan in, reportedly, northeastern Turkey, broadcast on television without mentioning the location or the name of the television channel. Based on the research conducted, Hibrid.info has not found any credible official or public information that confirms the claim about this kind of “warning” made by the Turkish president to the Serbian one. (here)
disinformation
The dubious portal “Ranknews3.com” has published an article that it turns out to have received from “Rtklive.com”, which talks about the opening of a factory in Prizren that is a German-Swiss investment. However, this dubious portal has given this article a fabricated title, claiming that the content contains data regarding salaries in this factory. However, the content does not contain any data about salaries, as falsely claimed in the title of this article. (here)
The website “Pamfleti.com” has published an old article, giving it a false title with the claim of presenting it as current. The article talks about women from Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia, who at that time had protested in front of the Serbian consulate in New York, demanding the punishment of Serbian criminals who committed violence against them. Hibrid.info has verified the facts presented in this article and it has been confirmed that the title is fabricated, since the content does not mention the name of the Serbian ambassador to the US, Marko Djuric. (here)
Disinformation/fake news
Some Serbian media outlets have published an article claiming that all Albanians stood by Rada Trajković, regarding the declaration for the demilitarization of the Serbs of the north. The claim is based solely on the reaction of the former Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, whom the Serbian media outlets falsely claim to be the daughter of the leader of the AAK, Ramush Haradinaj. The claim that all Albanians stood by the declaration of the Serb Rada Trajković, according to the working methodology of hibrid.info, is considered as “disinformation”, while the other one about the connection of Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla with the leader of the AAK is considered as “fake news”. (here)
Fake news
The portal "Kosovapost.net" has published an article with a false claim that during the past 24 hours (November 16) in Kosovo, three people have lost their lives as a result of infection with the Corona virus. However, the announcement made by the Ministry of Health states that no person has lost their life during the last 24 hours as a result of Covid-19. (here)
In a Facebook group that appears to support the Vetëvendosje Movement “meVetëvendosje-n”, a photo from an account named “Diaspora Vetëvendosje” was shared on November 16, showing a portrait of the US ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier. Attached to this photo is a statement allegedly made by Hovenier, which reads: "The opposition agrees more with the demands coming from Belgrade than with the decisions of the Government. So, this is how our positions towards the government make it difficult for us." Lawyer Tomë Gashi also fell prey to this photo with a fabricated statement, posting it on his personal Facebook account, which he then apparently deleted. (here)
Clickbait
The Facebook page “Pamfleti.com” has published an old news item from August 2018, when Prince Leka II had declared that national unification would be ideal for Kosovo and Albania. This page has tried to present this article as current by making interpretations in the title. (here)
The Facebook page “Pamfleti.com” has published an old news item from November 2021, when a discussion organized by a student movement brought together Glauk Konjufca, Shaip Kamberi and Marin Mema. The title claims that the three aforementioned protagonists were brought together in Skopje, which is not true, because the activity was held in Pristina and organized by a student movement in Pristina. This page has tried to present this article as current by making interpretations in the title. (here)
The “Gazeta” Facebook page has published an article with a fabricated title, claiming that there is a sudden announcement for Albanians living in Italy. While in content, the article talks about the increase in inflation in the Italian state. So, there is no announcement related to Albanians living in that state. (here)
The Facebook page "Pamfleti.com" has published an old news item from September 2019, claiming to present it as current. The news item concerned statements made by former Croatian President Stipe Mesic, who, in an interview with DW, spoke about the situation in the Western Balkans and the border issue. (here)