The monitoring report “Information Integrity in Kosovo, January–June 2026,” prepared and presented by Democracy Technology (DemTech), was launched today at an event attended by representatives of institutions, the diplomatic community, civil society and the media.
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The document focuses on developments and problems in the digital space, addressing in particular disinformation, information integrity and the ways in which women in politics are affected.
Finland’s ambassador to Kosovo, Eevamari Laaksonen, said that information manipulation, political polarization and content generated using artificial intelligence are challenges that are not limited to Kosovo, but are also present in European countries.
Speaking at the presentation of DemTech’s report, “Information Integrity in Kosovo: January–June 2026,” Laaksonen said that she had encountered similar cases of information manipulation even while on holiday in Finland.
“In Finland, I saw a ‘deepfake’ video in which a female member of parliament was portrayed in a compromising situation, as well as materials created using artificial intelligence suggesting that a female MP was pregnant. Edited photographs of politicians enjoying summer festivals were also published. And this happened in Finland…08:34. Our experience in Finland shows that disinformation cannot be stopped overnight and cannot be fought by governments alone. The effort begins with education, critical thinking, independent journalism and the simple question of whether what we see and share is truly accurate,” Laaksonen said.
She stressed that media literacy is highly important, but is not sufficient on its own, as artificial intelligence has changed both the speed at which false materials are produced and their appearance.
The ambassador said that one of the issues she intends to address with the lawmakers present concerns the use of disinformation and manipulated materials against women in public life.
Jonathan Hargreaves, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Kosovo, listed cyber threats, manipulation and foreign interference in information, along with online harassment, among the main challenges facing European democracies.
Speaking about DemTech’s report on information integrity in Kosovo, Hargreaves said that hostile states and actors linked to them are increasingly using disinformation to weaken democratic societies, deepen divisions and undermine citizens’ trust.
“None of our democracies is fully protected from these threats. For this reason, the United Kingdom considers joint work with you in Kosovo to be extremely important, as this is an issue that concerns and affects us all,” Hargreaves said.
According to him, citizens must be able to access reliable information, participate in public life without fear and maintain trust in democratic processes.
Hargreaves also highlighted the report’s findings on the use of artificial intelligence against women in politics and public life.
“In recent weeks and months, I have heard very often from women politicians about how manipulated images are being used to ridicule, intimidate and harm women leaders,” he said.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Peter Due, described protecting the integrity of the information space as a shared responsibility and an important condition for preserving peace in Kosovo.
Due announced that UNMIK would continue monitoring digital threats to peace, supporting initiatives that promote digital literacy in communities and backing independent journalists.
“We will continue to monitor the digital risks that threaten peace, support initiatives to advance digital literacy in communities and stand with independent journalists, who carry out their work courageously, often under difficult conditions,” Due said.
He added that information integrity must be preserved in order to protect the peace achieved after extensive efforts.
“Protecting the integrity of the information space is everyone’s responsibility and is essential to safeguarding the peace won through tremendous effort,” he said.
Information disorders in the media environment have become a significant problem for democratic societies. Rapid technological progress, particularly the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence, together with the spread of disinformation, is radically changing the way citizens access, consume and share information online.
