Kica Xhelili’s case is not the only example of social media users venting their anger toward individuals whose actions they don’t like, disagree with or simply want to mock.

Members of the public who do not hold any public position are also often targets for hate speech. At the beginning of this year, a KTV interview with two girls went viral on social media. The journalist asked them about their musical preferences and they answered in Albanian, occasionally switching to English. In the comments section, social media users mocked, insulted and spread hate speech toward the girls for not responding solely in Albanian.

Video interviews, usually done in a vox pop format where journalists ask members of the public on the street for their opinions on various topics, are increasingly becoming targets for abuse on social media. Social media is frequently used to distribute short videos often taken out of context.

Nowadays, insulting and using hate speech has almost become the norm on social media. This is a hard problem for Kosovo’s media outlets to manage due the large number of internet users.

Hate speech on the rise and the need for a legal basis to control it

The most popular social media platforms such as Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and YouTube are widely used by journalists and media outlets to distribute news to the public. The most popular social platform in Kosovo is Facebook. This may be why Kosovar media outlets use it most for distributing news articles and posting other media content.

Hate speech is widely spread on these platforms.

In the most general sense, hate speech refers to any form of communication or expression with the intention to discriminate, harass, provoke a reaction or incite negative attitudes, intolerance, hostility or violence against individuals or specific groups. This language involves attacks on race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language affiliation, cultural, moral or political views, social status, occupation, physical or mental characteristics, or any other characteristic.

Comments that spread or incite hate speech can be dealt with by the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo by reporting to the Police or filing a complaint.

Article 141, point 1 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo states: “Whoever publicly incites or publicly spreads hatred, discord and intolerance between national, racial, religious, ethnic and other groups or based on sexual orientation, gender identity and other personal characteristics, in a manner which is likely to disturb the public order shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.”

According to media lawyer Flutura Kusari, there are regulations to address hate speech in Kosovo, but the implementation of this legislation is lacking. According to her, women, particularly activists, journalists, and those involved in politics, are more frequently subjected to online hate speech. “There is an increase in the insults, incitement to violence, abuse, and death threats that happen on social media,” she said.

Comments that leave a mark

Online abuse is just as serious as offline abuse.

Blerta Agushi

Comments that leave a mark

Online abuse is just as serious as offline abuse.

Blerta Agushi