The digital enigma: an investigation into the illiberal online practices in the Balkans

Venue:  Online (Zoom). In-person places are sold out, thanks for your understanding.

We would like to invite you to the launch of the report "The digital enigma: an investigation into Illiberal online practices in the Balkans". The research investigates the ways in which governments in three Balkan countries use new and emerging digital technologies, and the impact that this has on citizens' civil liberties.

The launch event  brings together the authors of the report, Members of the European Parliament, and other policymakers to discuss  the pressing issues highlighted in the report.

Programme

15:00 Welcome remarks by Zora Siebert, Head of programme - EU Democracy and Digital Policy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP (Greens/EFA)

15:10 Presentation of the report by the authors:

• Ana Martinovic is a lawyer working with the SHARE Foundation. She has over ten years of experience in human rights litigation, litigating cases concerning housing, discrimination, freedom of movement and minority rights. Before joining the SHARE Foundation, she worked at the European Court of Human Rights. 
• Mila Bajić is the head of research at SHARE Foundation. Her areas of interest and expertise include working on issues of online information disorders, hate speech, gender based online violence and online election manipulation tactics. She is also one of the Open Internet Leaders of the Open Internet for Democracy Initiative for 2023. 

15:30 Discussion and Q&A 

16:10 Closing remarks

Moderation: Zora Siebert, Head of programme - EU Democracy and Digital Policy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union

Register here by 26 January 2024.

For any question, please contact Anna Mes.

Background to the report

In the last decade, we have witnessed first-hand the rise of democratic backsliding and the use of digital technologies around the world. These practices often go hand in hand. The state-sponsored use of technology, as well as citizens’ digital habits, have given rise to concern about the rise of digital illiberalism in the Western Balkans region. 

The three countries investigated in this study are Balkan countries with different ties to the European Union - either already members (Greece) or in different stages of accession (North Macedonia and Serbia). The region - with its unique socio-political context - presents an interesting case study for exploring the interplay between digital technologies and illiberal practices.