Fake social media profiles created during politically sensitive periods pose an increasing risk because they are designed to manipulate public opinion through misinformation and disinformation, according to Festim Rizanaj, a researcher at Kosovo’s fact-checking platform Hibrid.info.
Speaking to Ekonomia Online, Rizanaj said such accounts become particularly active during election campaigns, when public interest and political engagement are at their highest.
“These fake accounts created in specific situations, especially during election campaigns, represent a serious risk because their primary goal is to manipulate public opinion. They seek to influence people who obtain information from these profiles by changing their perception of political developments, elections, and other important events through misinformation and disinformation,” Rizanaj said.
He warned that one of the most significant consequences of the phenomenon is increasing social polarization, arguing that many social media users focus only on the content they see rather than verifying its source.
“Many people judge information based solely on the image or headline presented to them, without checking the account that published it. The source is crucial. If the information comes from a credible media outlet, it is generally more trustworthy. If it comes from an unknown profile or page, users should investigate who is behind it, examine the profile picture—which may have been generated using artificial intelligence—check when the account was created, and review its number of followers or friends. These are important indicators that can help determine whether an account may be fake,” he explained.
Rizanaj added that the creation of fake profiles has become a global phenomenon, facilitated by social media platforms that allow virtually anyone to create accounts and pages.
“Social media has made it easy for anyone to create accounts and pages. As a result, this has become a global phenomenon, where fake profiles are established during specific events or political developments to manipulate public opinion and alter public perception,” he said.
The issue has gained renewed attention in Kosovo in recent days following activity linked to a social media profile known as “Lule Gjeli,” which has targeted several public figures.
Blerta Deliu-Kodra, an MP-elect from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), announced on Sunday that she had filed a complaint with Kosovo’s Special Prosecution regarding the profile.
