The first meeting of the Albania Working Group brought together experts from civil society and academia to map Albania’s evolving disinformation landscape. The session kicked off a six-month project under the CIDC-Sensika Disinformation Observatory to test narrative mapping and keyword analysis in real time.

Key Themes Discussed:

• Disinformation channels include TikTok (especially for youth), Facebook, Telegram, closed groups, and ideologically owned legacy media.
• High-risk narratives cover COVID-19 conspiracies, anti-Soros/anti-NGO sentiment, Ukraine war distortions, EU integration myths, and migration disinformation.
• Vulnerable audiences include young people, rural communities, and politically disaffected adults.
• Foreign influence from actors like Russia, China, Iran, and Türkiye adds layers to local polarization.
• Linguistic strategies rely on binary oppositions, emotional triggers (fear, betrayal), and anecdotal “evidence.”

Next Steps:

• Develop a taxonomy and keyword database tailored for Albania.
• Expand platform-specific mapping for TikTok, Facebook, and messaging apps.
• Design practical media literacy materials for schools.
• Engage local journalists and regional focus groups to diversify insights.