Fake news has dominated the Albanian-language misinformation ecosystem over the past week.
The fake news published on social media TikTok and Facebook were claims that there will be attacks and many casualties in northern Kosovo, that members of the Russian mercenary group Wagner have been seen moving from Mitrovica towards Leposavic, and that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will send seven Bayraktar drones to Kosovo.
Disinformation has been published on social media and dubious portals. Regarding the topics, it has been claimed that theologian Elvis Naçi has been denied entry to the US, an image has been published claiming that the Albanian historical figure Isa Boletini is in a photograph together with several Serbian soldiers near a mosque, as well as disinformation about the salary of firefighters.
The articles that were assessed as clickbait were published on information portals and were related to the ban on smoking, as well as a law on wearing masks, which had not occurred in the Albanian-speaking area and the location of the event was not disclosed in the headlines.
An article that was assessed as clickbait/fact manipulation was about the announcement of Blerim Vela's removal from the position of chief of staff of the presidency.
Two fraudulent pieces of content have been published on social media, a deepfake related to American actor Sylvester Stallone, and a fraudulent credit posting.
Unverified content / disinformation in Serbian about the Orthodox mass in Albanian in the Municipality of Podujevo, the village of Rakinica, and specifically in the Church of Saint Michael.
disinformation
Several TikTok accounts have published a video claiming that theologian Elvis Naçi has been denied entry to the US. Hibrid.info has confirmed that the claim in question is an opinion piece. The accounts in question have tampered with the image and published the article as news. (here)
A TikTok account has published an image claiming that the Albanian historical figure Isa Boletini is pictured with several Serbian soldiers near a mosque. After researching online search engines, hibrid.info managed to find the same photo published in a Serbian media outlet, which does not include Isa Boletini's name in the description of the image. (here)
The dubious portal “gazetaprishtina.info” has published an article titled “Animal Violence Against a Man by Three People in Pristina (View +18)”. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the incident did not occur in Pristina, but in the city of Prizren. (here)
The Facebook page called “Skenari.net” has published a video with the caption “Can you believe it, €145 salary for firefighters in Kosovo!”. Hibrid.info has researched and verified that this title was taken from a statement by a firefighter who appears in the video. The firefighter interviewed stated that until 2009 they were paid €145, and Hibrid.info has also confirmed that this category is not paid the amount claimed in the video’s title. (here)
Fake news
The TikTok account named “munchen_live” has published a video claiming that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will send seven Bayraktar drones to Kosovo, as stated by the aforementioned account, for self-defense against Serbia. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the claim is incorrect, as no information has been found published in any credible media regarding this issue. (here)
A TikTok account published a video on November 24 showing footage of a tornado hitting the country. The video claims that the event took place in Germany and that 10 Albanians died in the tornado. After research conducted by hibrid.info, this claim presented in the video turns out to be false. (here)
The TikTok account “babajaga454” published a video on November 28 with the caption claiming that there will be attacks and many victims in northern Kosovo on Saturday (December 2). However, hibrid.info has investigated and has not been able to find evidence that confirms the claim published by the account in question. Such a claim has not been found published on any of the official Kosovo security websites or online media, in English or Albanian. (here)
The Facebook page called “Bota në fokus”, through a post published on November 26, claimed that a former police officer convicted of the murder of George Floyd was stabbed to death in prison. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that the claim is incorrect. Inmate Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of the murder of George Floyd, was attacked on Friday (November 24) at the Tucson Federal Correctional Institution, however, he is in stable health. (here)
A TikTok social media account has published a material claiming that members of the Russian mercenary group Wagner have been seen moving from Mitrovica towards Leposavic. In this material, this account has also placed two images showing several soldiers. After fact-checking carried out by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that both photos are old, one showing members of the Wagner group, and the other several members of the Ukrainian territorial defense battalions. (here)
Clickbait
The Albanian-language information portal “Kosova-sot.info” has published an article titled “Government harshly criticized after plans to repeal smoking ban”. After verifying the facts, hibrid.info has confirmed that the title of this article is generalizing, as it does not clarify which country’s government it is referring to. The news is clarified only in the content, more precisely in the headline of the article, which states that “The new government of New Zealand says it plans to repeal the smoking ban to finance tax cuts”. (here)
The information portal with content in the Albanian language “Kosova-sot.info” has published an article titled “Should wearing a mask be made mandatory on public transport?” After verifying the facts, hibrid.info has confirmed that the title of this article is generalizing, as it does not clarify which country’s public transport this issue is raised in. The article, even in the continuation of the content, does not clarify and never mentions that it is about a law on wearing a mask that could come into force in Switzerland. The article mentions the Federal Council, laws, and quotes foreign officials, but without clarifying who they are and which country they are talking about. (here)
Clickbait / Manipulation of facts
The information portal "GazetaDemos" published on November 30 the announcement of the dismissal of Blerim Vela from the position of Chief of Staff of the Presidency. But in the title it implied that he was dismissed due to previous situations between the former Chief of Staff of the Presidency and the President of Serbia, although the decision states that he had requested the dismissal himself. (here)
Lies
A TikTok account has published an old interview with American actor Sylvester Stallone. In this video, Stallone can be heard talking about his grandparents, adding that they are Arbëreshë of Albanian origin. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it was noticed that the material is manipulated. (here)
The Facebook page named “Personal Loan” published a post on November 24th claiming to offer business loans of up to 25 thousand euros. However, after verification, hibrid.info has confirmed that the post is a fake announcement from this page. Hibrid.info has found that the post was taken from the announcement of the “Financing Agency in Kosovo”, a micro-finance institution, and its description has been changed. (here)
Unverified content / misinformation
Father Nikolla Xhufka organized an Orthodox mass in Albanian in the Municipality of Podujevo, the village of Rakinica, and precisely in the Church of Saint Michael, an event over which claims were raised by the Diocese of Raska-Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia. The Diocese claimed that the Municipality of Podujevo was also involved due to the participation of its officials, which was denied by the Municipality itself, stating that no official of the Municipality participated in an official capacity. On the other hand, the Office claims without evidence that this event was organized with the knowledge and support of the institutions of Pristina, led by Albin Kurti. (here)