balkan insight Archives - Page 5 of 24

Turkey Bans Adverts on Twitter in Row Over Company Representative

Posted on July 21, 2023August 2, 2023 by BIRD

Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority, BTK, on Friday banned Turkish citizens and companies from placings advertisements on Twitter after the social media giant failed to obey a new digital law and appoint an official representative.

“It has been decided to prohibit the placing of new advertisements by natural and legal persons on X Corp. (Twitter) formerly known as Twitter, Inc, which failed to fulfil its obligation to designate … representatives,” the BTK wrote in its decision published in the Official Gazette.

Turkey’s new digital law, adopted in 2022, was widely condemned by rights groups, experts and the opposition, which said it would increase government control and censorship on social media platforms.

Any persons or companies who place advertisements on Twitter will now be fined.

The new law requires social media companies to appoint official representatives in Turkey who will be responsible for handling government demands and notifications, such as for content removal.

If Twitter continues to fail to appoint a representative in Turkey, the next step will be halving the bandwidth for Twitter, according to the law.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has passed a number of draconian laws and regulations concerning social media, digital rights and internet freedoms in recent years.

Opening the Black Box of Govt Data Protection Practices in Serbia

Posted on July 20, 2023August 1, 2023 by BIRD

Every now and then, I check a tweet posted in June 2020 just to see if it’s still online. It is. Featuring a 15-second video, its caption in Srebian reads: ‘Accident in front of the government of Serbia’.In the clip, a speeding passenger car crashes into a minivan, causing, it later emerged, multiple fatalities.

We should be used to attention-grabbing content on social media by now, and even aware that an economy built around advanced technologies “treats human attention as a scarce commodity, as a United Nations-commissioned report says, ever seeking to maximise engagement. There are some means we can use to avoid particularly disturbing items online, but all we really have is good old self-restraint.

Controlling one’s own online behaviour – clicks, likes, and alike – is also one small step on a long and tedious road to protecting our privacy and personal data that we now know is what feeds multi-billion-dollar global businesses whose services we use ‘for free’.

But mindfulness shouldn’t be our best recourse when we use public services, surely?

Government institutions, agencies and authorities should run privacy-by-design operations, as they handle vast amounts of citizens’ data on a daily basis, providing no opt-out choice. We are obliged to lay out our personal data to them, and they are obliged to keep it safe, online or off.

Since August 2019, these operations in Serbia are required to comply with provisions of a new personal data protection law [passed nine months earlier, with a grace period for compliance], largely copy pasted from the appropriate piece of legislation in EU law on data protection, called the General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR. This EU regulation has set groundbreaking standards of data protection globally, its provisions applying to technical and organisational procedures, defining virtually all the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ in handling citizens’ data, whether stored on a cloud system or in a paper file.

If the similar provisions from the Serbian 2018 law were applied, we would probably never see the tweet posted in June 2020.

Lack of transparency

Presdient of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Hans-Georg Maassen, speaks at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Potsdam, Germany, 19 May 2014. Photo: EPA/RALF HIRSCHBERGER

The disturbing video of a car crash in front of a key government institution wasn’t taken on the street by an accidental witness. It is clearly marked as the video feed from a traffic surveillance camera. There are visible tags in the top corners of the feed, a date and time stamp in one and the camera’s number and location in other. But it wasn’t a leak either, at least not in the strict sense of a piece of original data leaking out of the system. Someone with physical access to the traffic monitoring room took their smartphone and recorded the broadcast from the computer screen. There’s another visible tag in the left upper corner, this one showing the name of the specific application, with the word ‘server’ in parentheses.

In Serbia, personal data governance often seems like an algorithmic ‘black box’ – a complex system whose inputs and inner workings are not visible or sometimes even comprehensible.

The internal processes are plagued with lack of transparency, while public access to information is thwarted. We manage to learn of the government’s data protection practices mostly by accident. Luckily, there are plenty. From the reckless disregard for legal obligations that exposed the personal data of almost the entire adult population of Serbia in 2014, to the intentional evading of protections laid out in the Constitution to access user communication data of four major telecommunication service providers.

To be fair, these things happened before the new data protection law replaced the old one, known among specialists as the legislation that had practically never been applied.

Times have changed, and expectations as well. Reading about fines issued by national privacy regulators and data protection officers, to both private and public organizations, somewhat shifted our perception. Knowing that we now have the same legal standards as those used to severely penalise an EU-member tax authority after it was hacked, for its deficient security practices, is bound to change procedures in Serbian public institutions too. Or is it?

Serbia does have “a relatively developed legal framework of personal data protection”, said Ana Toskic Cvetinovic, executive director of the Partners Serbia organisation, and an experienced privacy protection expert.

Besides specialising in the field, teaching at the National Academy of Public Administration, and producing a body of analysis and policy recommendations, Toskic Cvetinovic also took part in the working group that prepared a new government strategy for personal data protection. The public hearing on this key strategic document was recently concluded, “and it remains to be seen whether it will contribute to improving the situation,” Toskic Cvetinovic told BIRN.

“The main problem is that the 2018 law assumed some legal solutions from EU legislation – such as the GDPR and the so-called Police directive – that are not applicable in the Serbian legal framework.”

“In addition, although both the Law and the Action plan for Chapter 23 [Judiciary and Fundamental Rights] of the EU accession negotiations stipulate that all sectoral laws should be harmonised with the data protection law; this work has not even started yet. All this complicates applying the regulations, in both public and private sectors, and also leads to legal uncertainty for citizens.”

Who will have access?

Photo: Pixabay

Personal data protection is increasingly a topic of discussion in Serbia, at least in part thanks to the 2018 law, which has certainly improved the domestic normative framework, imposing new obligations on data controllers and processors, and introducing new rights for citizens whose data is processed. But these novelties have not fully taken root in practice, Toskic Cvetinovic said.

“There’s more awareness, in both private and public sectors, of their legal obligations,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are also those who knowingly violate the rules, deciding that the abuse of citizens’ data is more profitable than complying.”

Toskic Cvetinovic underlines that the sanctions provided under Serbian law “are lenient, and the criminal-legal protection is ineffective, thus sending a message to data controllers that non-compliance would not actually entail any serious consequences.”

In particularly, she points to the large systems of state administration that process massive volumes of personal data, while they have honest difficulties in applying protection measures. At the same time, politicians and decision-makers in the public sector keep pushing for rapid digitalisation of public services. Without adequate technical infrastructure and human capacities, this can only increase the risk to citizens’ rights, said Toskic Cvetinovic.

Global dilemmas and debates around increasingly intrusive technologies that expose human rights and civil liberties to grave risks, especially when using these technologies in critical areas such as policing, border control, judiciary, or healthcare, indicate the urgent need for additional regulation. And most definitely for stricter oversight.

But as I was pondering the introductory passage to this article, the latest clip from a traffic surveillance camera in Belgrade showing a car crash was launched into social media circulation. Again, the video feed was recorded with a smartphone from a screen in the traffic monitoring room.

A new round of consultation on the improved version of a draft law on police has been launched, after two failed attempts to legalise a smart video-surveillance system in public spaces. It would be the kind that is capable of automatically detecting and recognising faces, identifying people by their body postures, and tracking and recording their movement in real time. Certainly, far beyond the capabilities of a plain old traffic camera. Who will have access to such systems with their smartphone?

Journalists in Serbia Feel Undefended From Online Attacks, BIRN Report

Posted on July 19, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

Online threats against journalists are more intense and common than physical ones, but most newsrooms have not set up safety protocols to help them respond to these attacks, while laws do not provide efficient protection, BIRN and IJAS’s new report reveals.

Working in an environment that is becoming primarily digital has left journalists and media more exposed to online to attacks, insults and threats, but many newsrooms have not established mechanisms to deal with such cases and legislation does not provide adequate protection either.

These are some of the findings from the latest report, “Journalists’ Safety in the Digital Environment”, which BIRN Serbia and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, IJAS, published on July 18.

Online attacks and threats impact journalists’ mental health and private lives and affect relations in the newsrooms and commitment to professional standards. Online abuse is typically “normalised” and
considered as part of the job.

“The most striking finding is that hate speech, threats, insults, intimidation, pressure and other forms of digital violence against journalists are so widespread in Serbia that journalists believe that it has become a daily ‘normal’ environment in which they work and that it is the price they pay for their work.

“When faced with digital threats and insults, they generally do not report them because they know that, at the institutional level of protection, things are rarely undertaken and resolved,” says Aleksandra Krstic, associate professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade, one of the report’s authors.

Endangerment of journalists’ safety may lead to self-censorship and journalists may even abandon stories of public interest. which then lowers the quality of information the public receives and puts at risk media independence and freedom of speech, the report notes.

The report says many journalists rarely report insults and threats, warning that “the lack of trust that journalists have in the institutional protection system, the competent prosecutor’s office or the courts, is alarming”.

Marija Babic, lawyer at IJAS and another author of the report, says it is necessary to harmonise laws with developments in the digital space in order to prosecute attacks.

“Competent authorities should process attacks and threats to journalists as quickly as possible. It is also very important that such attacks are condemned by high-ranking state officials, who should stop pressuring and targeting journalists and the media as this is only making them [journalists and media] targets of very serious attacks,” says Babic.

The report also notes the lack of professional solidarity with attacked journalists and the fact that journalists and editors mainly turn to the public – which is the only thing they still trust – hoping that publicising attacks and threats will save them from potential attackers.

“All these findings should be read in a general, social context that is not conducive to the development of free and independent media. Threats and pressures, intense public campaigns led by representatives of the highest state authorities, a culture of impunity and weak institutions lead to a situation where journalists and the media are legitimate ‘targets’.

“Apart from the need to strengthen the capacities of the newsrooms themselves, we should insist on more effective protection mechanisms through amendments to the laws and a stronger response from institutions,” says Tanja Maksic, program manager and researcher at BIRN and one of the authors of the report.

The full report in Serbian and English is available on BIRN Serbia’s website.

Bosnian Sentenced for Threatening BIRN Journalists on Facebook

Posted on July 17, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

The Municipal Court in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo on Friday gave Nefail Cehic a suspended three-month prison sentence for “endangering the security” of BIRN journalists in Bosnia.

The indictment stated that Cehic was fully aware that his actions endangered the safety of, and caused distress to employees of BIRN BiH, when he made a serious threat to their lives on August 7, 2020.

He sent a message from his Facebook profile “Ljepota prirode” to the Facebook profile “Detektor” of the Bosnian branch of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Sarajevo, containing a serious threat.

Cehic’s message came after BIRN published an analysis and the 116th episode of the “TV Justice” magazine entitled “Can Former ISIS Fighters in BiH Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?”

The episode discussed the possibility of prosecuting returnees from the Syrian battlefields not only for terrorism but also for war crimes, following the practice of some European countries that have increased penalties for joining the terrorist organization known as Islamic State, IS.

The accused insulted and verbally abused BIRN BiH journalists, stating, among other things: “All of you should be dealt with swiftly.” Prosecutors stated in their indictment that this caused a feeling of personal threat and distress among employees of the newsroom.

His sentence will not be executed if the defendant does not commit another criminal offence within one year of the verdict.

Serbian Court Criticised for Convicting Journalist of Inciting Revolt

Posted on July 11, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

Zeljko Bodrozic, president of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, NUNS, said on Tuesday that the verdict sentencing journalist Milovan Brkic to 14 months in jail was proof that the country’s judiciary has become an arm of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.

Brkic, 66, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Tabloid, was convicted by Belgrade Higher Court on Tuesday of calling for a violent change in the country’s constitutional order. The verdict can be appealed.

“If Milovan Brkic is really capable of destroying the state and harming it with his articles and speeches, then this state is not a tiger in the Balkans, nor does it have security services that it can be proud of,” said Bordozic.

“Brkic’s Tabloid has a very small reach and influence, but it is highlighted non-stop by the authorities in order to create the image that President Aleksandar Vucic is constantly under threat. That certainly cannot be a reason for someone to be sentenced to 14 months in prison,” he added.

The prosecution claimed that on May 8 this year during a ‘Serbia against Violence’ protest, Brkic called for the overthrow of the state authorities and their representatives – the National Assembly and President Vucic.

“The court today had a choice between showing that there is still some independence of the judiciary in Serbia or to send a message that Serbia has put an end to freedom of speech,” Brkic’s lawyer, Vladimir Gajic, told Beta news agency.

“Brkic was de facto convicted of a verbal offence. What he said on May 8 was just a politically incorrect statement,” he added.

The higher public prosecution had asked for Brkic to be sentenced to two years in prison.

Turkey Urged to Release Journalist Detained for Comments on TV

Posted on July 11, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

The Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed, also known as MAZLUMDER, called on Turkey’s government on Tuesday to release veteran Turkish journalist Merdan Yanardag, who has been detained since June 27 for comments he made about the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan People’s Party, PKK.

“We invite the authorities to adhere to national and universal legal regulations and to comply with human rights rules in their investigations and prosecutions,” MAZLUMDER said in a statement.

It described the handling of Yanardag’s case as “disproportionate” and said that the issue of whether or not he had committed any crime “can only be determined by trial”.

Yanardag, the executive editor of the TELE 1 TV channel, was taken into custody after he was accused by the prosecutor’s office of “praising a crime and a criminal” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation”. He has not yet been put on trial.

Yanardag said in a show aired on TELE 1 TV channel that the contact ban and solitary confinement imposed on jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan should be lifted.

“Abdullah Ocalan is not someone to be taken lightly. He almost became a philosopher in prison because he does nothing but read. He is an extremely intelligent person who reads politics correctly, sees it correctly, and analyses it correctly,” Yanardag also said.

His comments were criticised by ruling coalition parties, state agencies and even some opposition parties.

However, rights groups argued that his remarks should be considered an expression of freedom of speech.

PKK leader Ocalan has been kept in solitary confinement for 24 years at a prison on the remote Imrali Island near Bursa.

Since March 25, 2021, Ocalan has not been in contact with his family and lawyers, and no information has been received from Ocalan or other prisoners on the island.

The PKK has been fighting against Turkish government for more than 40 years for greater autonomy for Kurds living in the country. PKK leader and founder Ocalan was captured in Kenya in 1999 and jailed for life.

Turkey remains the world’s one of the major jailers of journalists. According to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey, TGS, at least 34 journalists are behind bars.

Croatia Journalists: Govt is ‘Watering Down’ Anti-SLAPP Directive

Posted on July 10, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

Members of the Croatian Journalists’ Association, HND, on Monday unfurled a banner reading: “What are you afraid of?” in front of the Croatian Ministry of Justice and Administration and held a press conference where they expressed concern about the government’s position on the Anti-SLAPP Directive, calling it very “watered down”.

The purpose of regulating SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), is to deter plaintiffs and shorten court proceedings to last only as long as necessary for the court to determine that it is SLAPP, it was said at the press conference in front of the Ministry of Justice and Administration.

The president of the HND, Hrvoje Zovko, said SLAPP lawsuits were an attack on freedom of speech, used by politicians, entrepreneurs and even judges to persecute journalists in litigation and criminal cases.

“Croatia is the worst member state in the European Union [for SLAPPs]. Although the Ministry of Culture and Media has established a working group dealing with the issue … we are not satisfied. For five years, we have been listening to the declaratory promises of the government, which does nothing concrete,” he said.

He added that, although there are no significant obstacles in the Croatian legal system for the introduction of standards that would protect journalists and other SLAPP targets from pending litigation, the government has sided with the general approach of the Council of the EU, which has significantly diluted the proposal of the European Commission.

According to the latest HND research on lawsuits for damage to reputation and honour filed against journalists and the media, 945 lawsuits are active in Croatia, and the longest court case has been going on for 33 years.

“SLAPP lawsuits are a new form of attack on the journalism profession. Today, you no longer have to physically hit or attack someone, it is enough to harass them with lawsuits, and we are talking about compensation claims in the tens of millions of euros,” Zovko said.

The president of the European Federation of Journalists, EFJ, and of the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists, SNH, Maja Sever said they had issued a joint statement of the HND and EFJ just before the parliamentary session in Strasbourg, where the Anti-SLAPP Directive will be discussed.

“In the last month, we have been watching the dilution of documents that should protect journalistic freedoms. … We are here to warn you, fulfill your promises, what are you afraid of?” she said.

Sever said an effective framework for stopping SLAPP lawsuits is not being offered because it is intended to limit the scope of the directive to narrowly defined “cross-border” cases, i.e. cases in which criminal prosecution takes place in another EU member state.

She said the new “softened” approach weakens the mechanism of early rejection of the lawsuit by proposing a restrictive definition of “manifestly unfounded cases”, abolishes the provision on compensation for damages for the targets of SLAPP lawsuits, and excludes civil claims initiated in criminal proceedings.

Members of HND submitted a letter with demands to the Minister of Justice and Administration, Ivan Malenica.

International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, RWB, in 2022 put Croatia in 48th place out of 180 countries included in the index. RWB said that while the media scene in Croatia has become diverse and dynamic, “the government is failing to protect journalists against legal attempts to muzzle them, and against organized crime”.

“The government itself represents a threat to press freedom,” says the RWB report, emphasizing that “defamation is a criminal offense in Croatia, and regularly invoked by politicians and business people to discourage journalists’ questions about their activities.”

June Pride Parades and the Digital Ripple Effects on LGBTIQ+ Rights

Posted on July 7, 2023July 19, 2023 by 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.

A participant hold a rainbow coloured plush ball during the Gay Pride march in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, 10 June 2023. Few thousands gay populists and supporters gathered to demand for their rights. EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT

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.

Participants carry placards and rainbow colored flags, during Sarajevo’s fourth gay pride parade, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 24 June 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/FEHIM DEMIR

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.

Protesters march during a rally against violence in Belgrade, Serbia, 01 July 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

‘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.

A horizontally mirrored ‘username’ and ‘password’ input field is reflected in the iris of an eye in Neuss, Germany, 18 October 2017. Photo: EPA-EFE/SASCHA STEINBACH ILLUSTRATION

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

Croatian President’s Ban on Newspaper Attending Conference Slated

Posted on July 5, 2023July 19, 2023 by BIRD

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has been criticised for banning the daily Jutarnji list on Tuesday without any explanation from his press conference.

Hanza Media is the owner of several Croatian daily and weekly newspapers, including Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija and many others, which Milanovic has called “a cartel”.

“It’s not a media company, it’s a cartel. The government finances them, they have no shame, they organize a gypsy wedding in Split, not a Roma one. It’s not a media, so whoever writes there is not a journalist for me,” Milanovic said in response to a question asking why Jutarnji list was not allowed to attend the press event.

Milanovic was referring to the celebrations in Split of the 80th anniversary of Slobodna Dalmacija, which took place last month and was attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

“I was shocked by the email message from the spokesperson of the President’s Office, Nikola Jelic, who simply wrote to me that my accreditation to follow the press conference of the President was not approved,” journalist Kresimir Zabec told Hina news agency.

“This is the first time that something like this has happened in my many years of journalistic work. No president, prime minister, minister, or state institution has ever done this, no matter how much they may not have agreed with my views,” Zabec added.

He added that he was worried by the President’s statement that he, Zabec, was not a real journalist. Who a journalist is, he said, should be judged by newsroom editors, not politicians.

“It is a terribly dangerous thesis for our work and for the whole of society that politicians say who is a journalist for them and who is not,” he said.

“During his mandate, President Milanovic has systematically attacked institutions, uses inappropriate vocabulary and encourages exclusivity and division in society. This kind of attack on independent media from a position of power deserves every condemnation,” the Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Korzinek, said on Tuesday.

The President’s spokesman, Nikola Jelic, said on Tuesday that he was shocked by the message that Obuljen Korzinek had sent to journalists and the public.

“I am shocked by the message that the minister in charge of the media sends to journalists and the entire Croatian public when she assists the public political wedding of Plenkovic’s government and Hanza Media. From the position of decision-making power on (non)funding of the media, only the HDZ [the ruling Croatian Democratic Union] can defend the independence of the media so falsely,” Jelic wrote on Twitter.

Along with this message, he attached a photo from the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Slobodna Dalmacija with Plenkovic and members of the government.

Maja Sever, president of the European Federation of Journalists, on Twitter, called the President’s ban “a completely unacceptable, undemocratic move … It is your job and your duty to answer to the public and the press.“

The president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association, HND, Hrvoje Zovko, also called it an unacceptable practice.

Turkey to Probe ‘Provocative’ Social Media Posts on French Protests

Posted on July 3, 2023July 3, 2023 by BIRD

Istanbul’s Prosecutors’ Office announced that it has started an investigation of local social media posts on the protests that have rocked France, which started after a 17-year-old was shot dead by police near Paris on Tuesday.

“An ex officio investigation has been started against social media accounts saying that similar events may also happen with refugees living in our country,” the prosecutors’ office said in a statement.

The statement added that such social media posts “incite the public to hatred and hostility,” and deemed them false, misleading and provocative.

A police officer shot dead the teenager of Algerian heritage during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre earlier this week. Following the incident, nation-wide protests started in France and protestors clashed with police.

The protests have been making headlines in Turkey and some, including politicians, have said similar events could take place in Turkey between the large refugee community and the security forces.

“Here’s the much-praised French experience for you. The result is the first stage of internal conflict. However, these scenes will be considered a kindergarten fight considering the infrastructure of terrorist organisations in Turkey. … We will not allow Turkey to be dragged into internal conflict,” Umit Ozdag, far-right and anti-migrant Victory Party leader wrote on Twitter on July 1.

According to official figures, there are more than 4 million refugees – most of them Syrians – living in Turkey. However, it is believed that the real number of refugees is much higher.

Istanbul’s Prosecutors’ Office announced that it has sent an order to the police to identify suspects who use social media accounts that “make provocative, criminal and manipulative posts, and suspects who share crimes and criminal elements”.