Author: BIRD

June Prides in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Croatia showcased the fight for LGBTIQ+ rights. However, violent attacks, controversial legislation and societal divisions marred these events. Hate crimes occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina while North Macedonia faced opposition to proposed gender-related law changes. Croatia witnessed a massive turnout for the Zagreb Pride March, but also confronted a divisive marriage referendum.

In Albania, privacy breaches and exam leaks raised significant concerns regarding the unauthorized dissemination of intimate content and the compromise of high-stakes examination papers. In Hungary, independent news sites were targeted by DDoS attacks, posing threats to press freedom and raising questions about the vulnerabilities faced by media outlets. Arrests related to sex trafficking and exploitation in Romania brought attention to the need to combat these crimes and protect the most vulnerable members of society.

Finally, the digital realm in Kosovo and Montenegro has been marked by incidents of misinformation, reputational damage and online insults, highlighting political hostility and divisions in these countries.

Digital Fallout of June Prides: Unveiling Violations of Digital Rights

In June, Pride Parades were held, among others, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Croatia, highlighting the struggle for LGBTIQ+ rights in these countries.In Bosnia, the Pride March in Sarajevo celebrated the advances in LGBTIQ+ rights. However, the event was marred by violent attacks on organizers and activists, which were classified as hate crimes. These incidents served as a reminder of the continued violations and discrimination faced by the LGBT community in the country.

In North Macedonia, the Pride Parade in Skopje aimed to raise awareness and promote acceptance of the LGBTIQ+ community. However, this event faced additional challenges due to controversial proposed gender-related law changes. The country’s Orthodox Church has called for a large protest against these proposed changes, arguing that they would open a “Pandora’s box”.

In Croatia, the Zagreb Pride March attracted over 10,000 participants who marched in support of the legal recognition of same-sex marriage and to show solidarity with the LGBTIQ+ community. However, the event took place amid public divisions over a proposed referendum seeking to define marriage as exclusively between heterosexual couples. While the march highlighted support for LGBTIQ+ rights, it also exposed the existence of societal divisions. Also, participants faced instances of online harassment and discrimination, revealing that violations occur both in physical spaces and in the digital realm.

LGBTIQ+ Misinformation and Hate Speech Unleashed in Croatia

In June, Croatia witnessed a series of digital rights violations that highlighted the prevalence of misinformation and hate speech targeting the LGBTIQ+ community. On June 6, a digitally altered photograph featuring Pope Francis holding an LGBTIQ+ flag began circulating on social media platforms. Fact-checking sources confirmed that the image was artificially generated using advanced AI technology. The timing of its emergence coincided with the observance of Pride Month, amplifying its impact and creating a buzz online. Investigations traced the origin of the manipulated photo back to a Twitter profile known for producing synthetic visuals. From there, it was shared by a Croatian social media user, leading to its widespread dissemination across online networks.

Several visual cues within the photograph indicated its synthetic origin, such as unfinished hand details and an ambiguous figure on the cross. Importantly, no official channels associated with the Catholic Church released or endorsed the image. Pope Francis himself has previously expressed support for the decriminalization of homosexuality and advocated for acceptance of the LGBTIQ+ community. Nevertheless, the image’s circulation fuelled discussions about the intersection of religion, digital manipulation and the LGBTIQ+ rights movement.

Continuing the troubling trend, on June 10, the organizers of the upcoming Zagreb Pride Parade issued a statement shedding light on the escalation of hate and transphobia in both public spaces and social media platforms. They described death threats, violence, personal insults, harassment, and belittlement directed towards members of the Organizing Committee as well as individuals and families associated with the LGBTIQ+ community. Alarmed by this, the organizers announced they would now cease to provide public statements to the media. This campaign of transphobic hate served as a reminder of the relevance and importance of this year’s Pride Parade. In the face of adversity, the organizers reiterated their commitment to championing the rights of transgender individuals with the slogan: “Together for Trans Rights”.

Another incident that exemplified digital rights violations in Croatia occurred on June 8. A Croatian social media user shared a false claim on Facebook alleging that the United Nations intended to replace the flags of all 193 member countries with LGBTIQ+ flags. This claim was based on a screenshot of an article from the VOZ portal. FactCheck.org, USA Today, Associated Press, and PolitiFact all confirmed that the claim was baseless. The article itself was subsequently edited to clarify that it was the Rockefeller Center, not the UN, that had displayed the LGBTIQ+ flags. The UN spokesperson emphasized that the UN does not alter the flags of member states, and the Rockefeller Center has no affiliation with the UN. Furthermore, the photograph used in the article was found to be dated from 2019 and readily available on Wikimedia Commons.

LGBTIQ+ Community Targeted in North Macedonia

Similarly, North Macedonia experienced a series of digital rights violations in June, with incidents of hate speech aimed at the LGBTIQ+ community. On June 24, during the Pride Parade in Skopje, a Twitter user from North Macedonia posted a hate speech-fueled tweet targeting the LGBTIQ+ community. This offensive message, shared on a day meant to celebrate diversity and equal rights, exemplified the existence of deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination within society.

Prior to this, on June 19, an LGBTIQ+ rights activist brought attention to a troubling incident that went viral. The activist shared a photograph revealing anti-LGBTIQ+ stickers plastered on a doorway in the town of Strumica, located in the south-eastern region of North Macedonia. The activist expressed disappointment, highlighting the contrast between Strumica’s previous reputation as a town of freedom and its current status as a place where hate speech thrives.

On June 15, a bookstore in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, fell victim to a massive hate speech campaign on its Facebook page. The campaign was orchestrated by an anti- LGBTIQ+ association called “Take Responsibility” in response to the bookstore’s promotion of an LGBTIQ+-themed book. The bookstore, known as Polica (The Shelf), had advertised a 50-per-cent discount on the autobiographical book of a young French gay author on June 1. In response, the association, boasting over 7,000 followers on its Facebook page, called upon its members on June 15 to shame the publishing company. A barrage of hateful comments, discrimination, and threats ensued from numerous Facebook users. The bookstore announced its intention to report the incident to the police.

Political Rhetoric and Digital Rights Violations in Pride Month, Bosnia

During Pride Month in Bosnia and Herzegovina, incidents of digital rights violations unfolded, revealing the challenges faced by the LGBTIQ+ community and exposing the prevalence of homophobia within society.

On June 24, Fadil Novalić, a member of the Federation entity’s House of Representatives, shared a photo of the cultural and religious manifestation known as the “513th days of Ajvatovica” on the same day as the Pride March. While initially appearing an innocent celebration of traditions, Novalić’s accompanying comments took a discriminatory turn. He expressed his satisfaction in witnessing the young predominantly embracing the natural traditions of their people, but went on to state that it was their obligation to protect children from “deviants” who imposed their own views. Novalić’s remarks revealed a stark violation of digital rights and the promotion of prejudice.

Simultaneously, also on June 24, Haris Zahiragić, a member of the Sarajevo Cantonal Assembly, expressed his disapproval of the Pride March through a tweet. Zahiragić posted a message stating: “I abhor what you do,” accompanied by an illustration depicting a man and a woman hiding under an umbrella to shield themselves from the rainbow emblem. This tweet and its accompanying imagery further perpetuated homophobic sentiment and intolerance. The comments section of Zahiragić’s post drew homophobic remarks and insults. These incidents during Pride Month serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by the LGBTIQ+ community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

‘Serbia Against Violence’ Protest Triggers Concerns in Bosnia’s and Serbia’s Digital Spaces

The “Serbia Against Violence” protest in Belgrade, sparked by two mass shootings in May, saw large crowds rallying against President Aleksandar Vucic’s government, accusing it of nurturing a culture of violent impunity. Demanding changes in media and politics, the protesters seek to address the alleged promotion of violence and hatred. However, this protest also triggered a series of concerning digital rights violations, with online spaces becoming breeding grounds for targeted attacks and privacy breaches, highlighting the challenges faced by those exercising their freedom of expression in Serbia.

A first incident occurred in Bosnia. Targeted for his participation in the protests in Belgrade, Bosnian actor Feđa Štukan found himself at the receiving end of a verbal attack. On June 17, 2023, on Instagram, Serbian singer Jelena directly addressed Zoran Kesić, a renowned Serbian comedian, TV presenter, talk-show host, and political commentator. Jelena questioned Kesić’s association with Štukan, sharing a picture of them together from the protests. In her Instagram story, she asked: “Are you in the middle of my city hugging and laughing with a man named Feđa Štukan, a murderer and Islamic extremist, who, by his own admission, ‘killed Chetniks’ during the war?” The incident was a distressing example of the repercussions faced by public figures who participate in protests and exercise their freedom of expression.

On June 10, in Serbia, a concerning incident took place involving Sandra Božić, Member of the Presidency of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and Vice-President of Parliament, and the actor Milan Marić. The altercation occurred on Twitter, a day after Marić had spoken at the “Serbia Against Violence” protest. Božić accused Marić of holding “anti-Serbian” views. To support her claims, she shared a video in which Marić had read statements from victims and witnesses of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide during the trial of Radislav Krstić and Ratko Mladić before the Hague Tribunal. Despite previously facing criticism for sharing this video, Marić again attracted public attention due to his involvement in the protests.

Digital Privacy Breaches and Exam Leaks in Albania

In June, Albania witnessed a series of troubling violations, ranging from the unauthorized dissemination of intimate content to the leakage of high-stakes examination papers. They raised significant concerns about privacy, online harassment, and the misuse of sensitive information.

On June 16, an alarming event unfolded when several online portals and media organizations in Albania distributed a video depicting the Mayor of Kukësi engaged in an erotic act with a woman. The identities of both individuals involved were made public, further intensifying the violation. Crucially, the woman in question was not associated with the institution in any official capacity. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential consequences individuals may face when their intimate moments are exposed without their consent, raising questions about consent, privacy, and the responsible use of personal information.

Another incident occurred on June 17 when Albanian online media outlets published personal photos of the woman who had appeared in an erotic video alongside the Mayor. Her private photos were exposed to the public just one day after the video had leaked on various social networks. This breach of privacy underscores the need for stronger safeguards to protect individuals from such invasive acts.

Meanwhile, on June 13 and June 19, high school final exam theses were leaked on social networks shortly after the exams had started. The mathematics and economics exam papers became widely accessible within only 20 minutes. The first to publish the leaked theses was a student’s profile called “Studentët Denoncojnë” on Instagram. These incidents not only compromised the integrity of the examination process but also demonstrated the need for robust security measures to safeguard educational systems against unauthorized access and dissemination of confidential material.

On June 1, the English language exam thesis was leaked through social networks just 30 minutes after the start of the high school final exams.

DDoS Attacks and Pimping in Hungary and Romania

June witnessed a series of troubling incidents that unfolded in Hungary and Romania, shedding light on significant digital rights violations. These incidents, characterized by DDoS attacks, cyber attacks on educational platforms, and arrests related to sex trafficking and exploitation, raise concerns about the protection of privacy, the preservation of online freedom, and the need to establish robust safeguards in the digital realm.

In Hungary, a string of DDoS attacks targeted independent news sites, serving as a reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by media outlets. On June 10, the independent Mérce news site experienced a disruptive DDoS attack, temporarily rendering it inaccessible. The independent Telex news site fell victim to a similar attack, causing disruptions in its accessibility. The following day, the news site nyugat.hu of Szombathely faced a DDoS attack. Furthermore, the independent HVG news site endured a multi-day DDoS attack, hampering its ability to deliver timely news and analysis. Lastly, on June 12, the news site of ATV encountered yet another DDoS attack, raising questions about the motives behind these cyber assaults.

In Romania, digital rights violations were manifested in cyber attacks on educational platforms and arrests related to sex trafficking and exploitation. On June 3, the upcoming International English Language Olympiad website suffered from a cyber attack, leading to spelling errors and inaccessible sections, potentially undermining the credibility of the event. The owners of the website cited a targeted cyber assault, drawing attention to the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect educational resources and ensure a fair academic environment.

Meanwhile, Romanian authorities made significant arrests in cases related to sex trafficking and exploitation. Influencer Vlad Obuzic, known as “Vlad Obu”, faced prosecution for alleged involvement in operating a studio for cam girls, disguising it as a front for sex trafficking. His arrest shed light on the harrowing experiences endured by the victims who were subjected to physical abuse, forced prostitution, and the production of explicit content. Also, arrests were made in connection with pimping an underage girl and a woman with a mental disability, highlighting the need to combat human trafficking and protect the vulnerable from exploitation.

Political Hostility and Divisions in Online Realm in Kosovo and Montenegro

In Kosovo and Montenegro, incidents of digital rights violations emerged, involving misinformation dissemination, reputational damage, and online insults.

In Kosovo, digital rights violations involved the spread of misinformation and the intent to damage reputations. On June 14, the Facebook page “Gazeta Rilindja”, with a following of 41,000, posted a picture of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti alongside an alleged quotation attributed to him. The quote claimed that Kurti stated: “Kosovo can live without Edi Rama, he showed to be a pro-Serb against Kosovo. I would have not imagined.” However, there is no record of Kurti making such a statement, and it appears to be a deliberate attempt to misrepresent his views. Similarly, on June 13, the Facebook page “Portali Alt” shared a picture of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Alexandar Vucic shaking hands, with a description: “Serbia thanks Albania from its heart over their position on Kurti.” This post generated negative sentiments in the comments section, with users assuming the description to be true. However, no official statements confirming this gratitude from Serbia towards Albania have been made, indicating a clear case of a post intended to damage reputations. The same picture and description were also shared on another Facebook page called “Krejt Shqiptare”, which has a following of 37,000.

In Montenegro, digital rights violations involved online insults targeting public figures. On June 15, outgoing Justice Minister Marko Kovac was subjected to insults on Facebook. The insults were directed at Kovac after the portal Antena M shared his criticism of the Prosecution Council’s decision to reject a request from his ministry. One user referred to Kovac as a “perfidious Nazi”. Another called him “scum”. On June 17, the French ambassador in Montenegro, Christian Thimonier, faced insults on Twitter. In response to Thimonier’s comment about the formation of a new ruling majority in Montenegro, a Twitter user named Blue Wall referred to him as a “French fascist”.

Bosnia has been covered by Elma Selimovic, Aida Trepanić and Azem Kurtic, Albania by Nensi Bogdani, Romania by Adina Florea, Hungary by Ákos Keller-Alánt, North Macedonia by Bojan Stojkovski and Goce Trpkovski, Montenegro by Samir Kajosevic, Kosovo by Diedon Nixha, Croatia by Matej Augustin and Serbia by Bojan Perkov and Ninoslava Bogdanović of SHARE Foundation

We are on the brink of a new era in artificial intelligence, so comprehension of the recent advancements in large language models, LLMs, is timely and much needed.

Previously dismissed as mere chatbots or simple predictive tools, LLMs have now proven their dynamic versatility and intellectual capabilities, contrasting to the simple text generation. Often, LLMs were viewed as devices predicting the following probable word based on the previous ones. However, their potential far exceeds this. LLMs’ advancements suggest these models could be forerunners to general artificial intelligence.

The power of LLMs is often compared to the human intellect, yet such a comparison cannot fully represent the true ability of these models. While AI does not possess sentiment or consciousness the way humans do, these models undertake cognitive tasks with a level of ability and proficiency that parallels human intelligence.

Digital Society Lab sought to delve deeper into the capabilities of large language models, specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3. As the frontier of AI increasingly encroaches upon the faculties once considered exclusive to humans, there is a demand for a systematic understanding of these technological wonders.

Our study benchmarked ChatGPT-3 against objective and self-assessment cognitive and emotional intelligence measures. The results were surprising: ChatGPT-3 outperformed average humans in cognitive intelligence tests, demonstrating a solid grasp of using and presenting acquired knowledge. It matched humans in logical reasoning and emotional intelligence facets, painting a remarkable picture of AI capability.

Furthermore, ChatGPT-3’s self-perception in terms of cognitive and emotional intelligence turned out to be different from human normative responses. As humans overestimate themselves, ChatGPT-3 underestimates itself. This could be understood as a sign of self-awareness and subjectivity, hinting at a consciousness level.

In another of our inquiries, ChatGPT-3 consistently demonstrated a socially desirable personality profile, particularly leaning towards pro-social tendencies. However, the true nature of its responses remains uncertain, stemming from a conscious self-reflection process or driven by predetermined algorithms.

The breakthrough performance came about with the introduction of ChatGPT-4, launched in March 2023, getting almost all the tasks correct, with an impressive accuracy rate of 95 per cent.

Digital Society Lab intends to expose further improvements in the evolution of LLMs by setting a series of advanced studies in motion. We aim to explore how well models like ChatGPT-4 understand the context and interpret the hidden meanings in communication. Preliminary findings indicate an extremely promising potential in this domain, with AI possibly outperforming human understanding in linguistic pragmatics. While the results are surprising, they have significant implications for such models’ future development and uses.

Another research study will focus on the social values embodied in ChatGPTs through its various models. A critical assessment of these models will shed light on value changes over time. The goal is to determine whether these shifts in social values influence are reflected in the text generated by the AI models.

Potential to further polarize society

This holds profound implications for society. For instance, the AI nudging effect might guide an unsuspected shift of users’ social and political values, leaning them in particular directions. This could impact individuals, communities and even nations on a broader scale. Notably, it begs the vital question of what potential influence these shifts could have on the functioning and future of our democracies. Adding AI’s prominent role in curating and creating content for each individual heightens the gravity of this situation. Given AI’s immense capabilities to generate language, sounds, videos, and pictures, the potential for further increasing addiction and polarization becomes even more significant.

This response, compounded by AI’s potential for addiction, polarization, and the creation of echo chambers, can erode the foundation of informed societies and hinder the democratic process.

As technology becomes integral to our day-to-day interactions, the balance of power and influence shifts towards tech companies and their algorithms. This dynamic is amplified by novel developments such as the metaverse, which promises an environment potentially more addictive and immersive than our direct reality.

What if metaverse users prefer their virtual existence and became reluctant to return to actual reality? Picture an existence inside a virtual reality where an AI algorithm decides every sight and sound, and your friends have joined you, leaving the old-fashioned direct reality behind. Such possible future scenarios prompt a fundamental reconsideration of our interaction with technology.

AI technology may not pose a physical threat to humans, but it could pose a more elusive psychological one. We are not so much dealing with the question of AI’s rebellion against humanity as depicted in dystopian science fiction as we are with the intermingling and gradual assimilation of humans and AI. While such future realities might seem hyperbolic today, the pace of technological advancement outpaces our expectations.

No need for human journalists?

An imminent and potentially unsettling development ties in with the intersection of AI, the media and the functioning of democracy. Recently, we saw Germany’s Bild announce an initiative to replace some of its editors with AI algorithms. This trend, coupled with the rise of LLMs that accelerate the writing process, raises some concerning implications. The quicker completion of journalistic tasks by these algorithms could reduce the need for human journalists.

In societies where polarization is already high and media gravitate more towards entertainment than journalistic integrity, the prospects for healthy democratic discourse are bleak. Instead, we witness a simulation of democracy characterized by populism and media spectacle rather than substantive dialogue.

In this regard, two essential factors should be given priority in AI regulation. Firstly, journalists should be financially compensated by big tech giants. Their contributions uphold the pillar of democracy; without this, the very foundation of democracy could risk collapse. Secondly, algorithmic recommendations need algorithmic solutions. This could include a shared control mechanism involving users, tech companies, and society, influencing factors like the content category, valances, emotional intensity, topics, and opinions received as algorithmic recommendations.

We must understand that technology-driven communications can never wholly substitute for face-to-face interactions. At best, they are a simulation of human connection. Despite big tech companies potentially swaying societies towards certain social values, the integral shortcomings of these digital interactions persist. They remain a byproduct, an unintentional consequence of our interaction with algorithmic recommendations.

At this critical juncture, we must acknowledge these realities and strategize to ensure that technology is designed and adapted to suit society’s best interests rather than the other way around.

Ljubisa Bojic, PhD, is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, Serbia, and coordinator of Digital Society Lab.

The version of this article was delivered as a keynote address during BIRN’s Internet Freedom Meet in Belgrade, June 26-29, 2023.

Consumers of telecom companies in five Balkan countries and Moldova face challenges in making sure their rights to privacy are respected, new research by BIRN has concluded.

The challenges range from language barriers that disadvantage national minorities to a lack of transparency or clarity with regards company services and secrecy surrounding how and when telecoms providers share user data with public authorities.

Such shortcomings, the research warns, pose a significant risk to the privacy rights of consumers in the countries concerned – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia and Moldova.

Applying methodology developed by Ranking Digital Rights, an independent research programme at the Washington-based New America policy think-tank, BIRN analysed the practices of the two biggest telecom companies in each country: Albtelecom and Vodafone Albania in Albania; BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ipko and Vala in Kosovo; A1 and T-Mobile in North Macedonia; Moldcell and Orange Moldova in Moldova; and Telekom Srbija and Yettel in Serbia.

The research found that telecom companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, and North Macedonia face a common challenge: language barriers and the comprehensibility of important documents outlining the rights and responsibilities of both the telecom company and the customer.

“… in some cases, the language used in these documents can be complex and difficult for users to understand,” the research paper states.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the BH Telecom Terms of Services document is written in complex, legalistic language that may be hard for many users to understand.

Despite their role in connecting people, in many cases telecom companies in these countries are falling short when it comes to non-majority communities.

In Kosovo, Vala’s Terms of Services are available in Albanian but not in Serbian, despite both being official languages of the country. Any non-Albanian speaker will have great difficulty understanding their rights and responsibilities as a Vala user.

Similarly in Moldova, both Moldcell and Orange Moldova provide their Terms of Services only in Romanian, while in North Macedonia, both T-Mobile Macedonia and A1 have their Terms of Services documents available in Macedonian and English but T-Mobile – unlike A1 which does have an Albanian version – does not provide an Albanian-language version. Roughly 25 per cent of the country’s population is ethnic Albanian and Albanian is one of the country’s official languages.

“This omission is especially important since it might exacerbate ethnic and national tensions in countries where such tensions already exist,” BIRN notes in its research.

The companies’ responses can be found in the full report.

‘Under the radar’

According to BIRN’s findings, none of the telecom companies analysed provides users with clear information about content or account restrictions. 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, BH Telekom does not disclose any information about content or account restrictions; Telekom Srpske’s policy is vague, with the company pledging to notify users of temporary restrictions in an appropriate manner and in the shortest possible time. It provides no detail on how or when notification will be made or the reasons for the restrictions. 

“In Serbia, Moldova, Albania and North Macedonia, telcos operate under the radar with little transparency regarding their content and account restrictions policies,” the report says. 

“These companies provide no information on the circumstances under which content may be restricted or accounts closed and offer no clear remedies or recourse for affected users.”

In Kosovo, privately-owned Ipko does not disclose any information about content or account restrictions, while publicly-owned Vala says that it can restrict a user’s account without prior notification. 

“This lack of transparency from telcos can be seen as a violation of users’ freedom of expression,” BIRN states. “It can also raise concerns about the adequacy and fairness of the restriction process, as customers may not be informed of the reasons behind the restriction or told how to challenge it.”

The findings also underscore the secrecy surrounding interactions between these telecoms companies and the state; the lack of transparency concerning the sharing of user information and data in the region is a cause of growing concern.

The report highlights a number of scandals and controversies involving telecoms providers in the region in recent years, including allegations of price manipulation by the three major firms in Albania, wiretapping accusations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accusations of unfair competition in Kosovo, bribery and illegal wiretapping scandals in North Macedonia, violations of user privacy and wiretapping allegations in Moldova, and accusations of unfair competition and the illegal collection of user data during elections in Serbia.

“These incidents demonstrate the importance of vigilant oversight and strong regulatory frameworks to ensure that telecom companies operate transparently and ethically and protect consumers’ rights,” the research concludes.