Päivi Tampere, a Finnish expert in strategic communication, recently visited Kosovo and shared insights into the growing security challenges both Finland and Kosovo face in terms of disinformation. Both countries are dealing with neighboring countries that use various methods to influence their societies, particularly through the manipulation of information.
Tampere emphasized that Russia, along with Serbia, continues to exploit disinformation to attack Kosovo and other countries in the Western Balkans. These disinformation campaigns often focus on exaggerating security threats to ethnic Serbs and other minorities, portraying Kosovo as a fraudulent state unable to survive without Serbia’s support, and depicting NATO as an enemy force threatening Russia.
“When discussing hostile manipulation of information from abroad, the goal is often to polarize society or weaken international alliances. Russia’s objectives are nearly identical across different parts of Europe, and Kosovo is no exception. I would love to see a collaboration between Kosovo and Finland in addressing these challenges,” said Tampere.
Both countries share common elements in their security and disinformation challenges. Their adversarial neighbors use disinformation as a tool for influence. Social media plays a significant role in spreading narratives, although not all disinformation can be attributed to state actors. Tampere pointed out that it is not illegal to spread fake information online, as seen during the pandemic, where misinformation about vaccine safety circulated widely.
Tampere also noted that Finnish citizens feel more secure since NATO membership, though the work in countering disinformation remains ongoing. Finland collaborates with government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector while sharing experiences and information with Nordic and Baltic countries.
Kosovo has been a frequent target of disinformation, particularly after rising tensions with Serbia and recent events in the northern part of the country. Serbia and Russia’s narratives aim to portray Kosovo as a hostile state with the goal of expelling Serbs.
Although Kosovo is not a NATO member, it hosts KFOR troops, which have recently increased their presence. In some instances, KFOR officials have mentioned Kosovo alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina as hotspots for potential conflict.
