The topic of Kosovo government-organized bots was brought to the fore following another smear campaign on social networks in early March against a staff member of the European rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, more specifically, her new advisor for the Western Balkans, Djordje Bojović.
“For those who wonder why Viola is often so out of touch when it comes to Kosovo. Did you know that her main parliamentary assistant, a Serb, is the one who organizes her meetings with Russian spies, her trips to Mitrovica where she meets with Serbian criminals?” – reads the March 8th tweet of an X user “Kosovo is Dardania” marking an attack on the staff of the European Rapporteur for Kosovo.
The campaign on social networks then spread to such an extent that the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, numerous international officials, as well as public figures from Pristina, reacted, blaming alleged „government bots“ for what they interpreted as orchestrated attacks from various accounts. Viola von Cramon herself agreed with this assessment, as did the former president of Kosovo.
The Kosovo government soon denied those claims.
At the same time, some voices raised concerns, including public figures in Pristina, about the activation of those alleged government bots when Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was the target of criticism, even from international officials.
This same topic, the existence of „digital vigilantism“ of the ruling party in Kosovo, has now been covered by a new text of Balkan Insight.
Entitled „It’s Time Kosovo’s Govt Condemned its Army of Cyber-Bullies“, the text first praises Pristina for its good results in terms of press freedom compared to other countries in the Western Balkans.
What Kosovo fails in, it is further stated, is to deal with issues of „digital vigilantism“ against local and international actors who decide to criticize the government and the Prime Minister of Kosovo.
The rest of the text on Balkan Insight is available only with a paid subscription, but the part that they published separately on the networks was shared by the EP rapporteur for Kosovo with a new message – that it is this digital army of Self-Determination that limits freedom of speech.
“In Kosovo, former members of the ruling Vetëvendosje party have also confirmed the existence of a digital army tasked to spread information, enhance digital presence and target opposing views” – reads part of the text published on X, reposted by von Cramon with the description:
“Thanks for this important piece. Indeed VV digital army limits freedom of speech.”
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
