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A Facebook page published an AI-generated image falsely showing a senior Vetëvendosje official, Dejona Mihali, meeting with the Serbian president. The image was used to spread disinformation during a snap-election campaign in Kosovo. Fact-checking platform Krypometër confirmed the image was likely AI-generated using Hive, and the political party denied the claims.
The Facebook page Gjithqka rreth Politikes reportedly published an image falsely suggesting that Dejona Mihali, a senior Vetëvendosje official, coordinated with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić against Albin Kurti during Kosovo's snap-election campaign. The image was reportedly likely AI-generated, and Vetëvendosje denied the claim.
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 system was used to generate a highly realistic but completely false image of a political meeting to mislead the public.
The incident involved the coordinated use of AI-generated synthetic media to conduct a targeted political disinformation campaign aimed at manipulating public opinion and the electoral process.
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 who intentionally generated and distributed a political deepfake post-deployment to influence an election.
Added categories peak at 2: Minor (Epistemic Harm, Direct)
An AI-generated deepfake depicting a senior Kosovar official meeting with the Serbian president was disseminated on Facebook one week before national elections. The incident represents a targeted information operation aimed at manipulating democratic processes and electoral outcomes, highlighting the ongoing threat of synthetic media to national sovereignty and political stability.
The AI systems involved (both the generator of the deepfake and the Hive detection system) operate as tools, performing specific, well-defined functions (generating an image or detecting AI generation) based on direct inputs without autonomous planning.
Limited Risk: The report describes the creation and dissemination of an AI-generated deepfake image, which falls under the category of AI-generated content requiring transparency obligations.
The incident centers on the creation of a deepfake image to mislead the public, and the subsequent use of an AI verification tool to detect the fabrication.
The report provides clear, verified facts about the fabrication of the image, the specific political figures involved, the platform used for detection (Hive), and the electoral context. There is little ambiguity about what transpired.
None. The evidence clearly points to a politically motivated disinformation attempt using synthetic media.
Technology
Generative AI Accessibility
Easy access to AI tools enabled creation of realistic fake images.
Absence of Platform Filters
Social media platforms failed to auto-detect and flag AI-generated deepfakes.
Data Inputs
Target Image Availability
Publicly accessible photos of politicians were used to generate the deepfake.
Human Factors
Intentional Deception
Malicious actors created the fake image to influence election outcomes.
Political Polarization
High political tension made users receptive to spreading damaging disinformation.
Process and Methods
Inadequate Page Moderation
The Facebook page published unverified fabricated content without checks.
Reactive Fact-Checking
Fact-checkers analyzed the image only after it was widely distributed.
Regulatory Environment
Weak Election AI Policies
Lack of strong regulatory frameworks to prevent deepfakes in elections.
AI system involved
Identified by automated extraction; can differ from the alleged developers above.
