AI-Generated Deepfake Videos Circulated as Kosovo Election Coverage Before June 7 Vote
Deepfake videos disguised as authentic election coverage circulated on Facebook pages Gazeta Bota and Peja LIVE in the weeks before Kosovo's June 7, 2026 elections. The AI-generated videos simulated news reports and vox pops featuring synthetic characters making political statements, using media logos and public locations to appear credible.
What happened
Artificial intelligence-generated videos disguised as authentic media reports circulated on social networks in the run-up to Kosovo's June 7 elections. The deepfake videos simulated real interviews with citizens using media logos, public spaces and synthetic audio to appear as legitimate television news or vox pop segments.
One video published by Gazeta Bota on May 13 showed a woman in a black coat speaking in a Pristina square with the 'Ekonomia Online' logo on a microphone, making political statements about electoral figures. Another video shared by Peja LIVE on May 14 depicted a woman dressed as an official at Prishtina Airport with an RTK logo microphone, claiming President Vjosa Osmani would work as an analyst after the election.
Reported impact
The deepfake video from Gazeta Bota received over 8,400 likes, 908 comments, and 424 shares, demonstrating rapid spread of the fabricated content across social media platforms.
Index analysis
Visual and audio analysis showed the videos contained typical deepfake characteristics including unnatural facial movements, lip-syncing inconsistencies, and background elements that did not match real locations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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