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During the lead-up to the December 2025 Kosovo parliamentary elections, multiple Facebook pages published AI-generated deepfake videos. These videos depicted fake airport interviews with diaspora citizens expressing support for Albin Kurti. Fact-checkers confirmed the content was fabricated using AI, leading to the classification of the material as fraud intended to manipulate public opinion.
Facebook pages are reported to have posted purportedly AI-generated airport-style interview videos falsely showing expatriates saying they would return on December 28 to vote for Albin Kurti. The videos reportedly used Pristina Airport settings and were assessed by fact-checkers' verification tools as AI-generated or deepfake content.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to conduct large-scale disinformation campaigns, malicious surveillance, or targeted and sophisticated automated censorship and propaganda, with the aim of manipulating political processes, public opinion, and behavior.
Also classified as
The AI-generated deepfakes fabricated statements and interviews to spread false information about voter intentions.
The incident involved the coordinated creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfake videos on social media to manipulate public opinion and influence the Kosovo parliamentary elections.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed
The incident was caused by human actors intentionally using deployed AI generation tools to create and distribute deepfake videos to manipulate public opinion ahead of the Kosovo elections.
Added categories peak at 3: Substantial (Epistemic Harm, Inferred)
Ahead of the December 2025 Kosovo elections, malicious actors deployed highly realistic AI-generated deepfakes depicting diaspora support for Albin Kurti. While the immediate scale was limited and the content was debunked, the incident represents a direct attempt to manipulate democratic processes and sovereignty through synthetic media.
The AI systems (generative video and voice models) were used as tools by human creators to generate specific synthetic media outputs based on direct inputs, without exhibiting autonomous planning or agency.
Limited Risk: The incident involves 'AI-generated content such as deepfakes' which, under the EU AI Act, require specific transparency obligations to ensure users are informed.
The AI systems were used to generate deepfake videos of non-existent citizens and fabricate their voices to express political support.
The reports from hibrid.info and kallxo.com provide clear, verified details about the specific Facebook pages, video content, view counts, and the fact-checking tools (Hive Moderation, deepware.ai, WasitAi) used to confirm the AI generation. There is little ambiguity regarding the nature of the deepfakes or their intended political impact.
None. The evidence clearly points to a coordinated political disinformation campaign using synthetic media.
While the exact generative AI models used are unknown, this does not prevent reliable classification under the taxonomies.
Technology
AI Deepfake Generation Tools
Tools allowed creation of realistic fake videos and audio of citizens.
Visual and Audio Distortions
AI generation left visible distortions in text and synthetic audio patterns.
Data Inputs
Synthetic Audio Training Data
AI models used voice data to synthesize false statements by US analysts.
Disconnected Media Contexts
Existing images and documents were combined with AI audio to deceive.
Human Factors
Vulnerability to Deception
Audience easily deceived by fake visual and audio content during elections.
Intentional Political Manipulation
Actors intentionally used AI to manipulate public opinion and support Kurti.
Process and Methods
Inadequate Platform Moderation
Facebook and TikTok failed to proactively detect and block deepfakes.
Post-Facto Verification Reliance
Detection relied on external fact-checkers like hibrid.info after spread.
Management
Weak Platform Governance
Social media platforms did not implement safeguards against election deepfakes.
Regulatory Environment
Lack of AI Content Regulations
Absence of strict rules governing AI-generated political content in Kosovo.
AI system involved
Identified by automated extraction; can differ from the alleged developers above.
