Kosovo Media Weigh Solutions to Boom in Fake News

The story went viral quickly and was republished by almost countless news portals, media and social media pages, so that now it is still impossible to determine which media initiated the report.

As a result of the frenzy, in which none of the media organisations seemed to bother to check the accuracy and source of the story, the woman was identified and attacked in two towns, Lipjan and Ferizaj.

In Lipjan, she was recognized her from the published photos and two youngsters - apparently incited by social media posts - attacked her. They later boasted on social networks of having beaten a "child kidnapper".

The attack was recorded by a bystander. The video published on media and social networks showed that no one tried to protect the woman.

Two years later, the woman whose name is not being published, to protect her privacy and safety, is still suffering the physical and mental consequences of her ordeal.

Her case is also being debated by journalists and media and human rights experts as one of the best - or worst - examples of the human price of fake news in Kosovo.

The woman was attacked soon after she returned to Kosovo from another European country, recalls Muharrem Asllani, from the Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, an NGO that assists these minority communities.

At that time, the organisation tried to help find her a shelter in her birthplace of Podujeva. Today she lives in Prizren in a rented apartment paid for by this NGO.

Appeals for justice and compensation go unheard

Imer Mushkolaj - Executive Director of the Press Council of Kosovo. Photo: Agon Sinanaj

Asllani said that although she repeatedly sought psychological assistance from local institutions, her demands fell on deaf...