Fake Social Media Accounts Target Albania Protest Supporters

After weeks of protests demanding his resignation, Prime Minister Edi Rama accused social media algorithms of having “poured gasoline on the fire” of Albania’s so-called Flamingo Revolution. “The more views you get, the more influence you have. The more influence you have, the more power you hold. Power over whom? Over the slaves of the algorithms – over all of us,” Rama told parliamentarians from his governing Socialist Party. Days later, he returned to the theme of social media manipulation after visiting the picturesque mountain village of Theth, where last year the government demolished dozens of illegally built holiday chalets, prompting locals to demonstrate. Rama posted screenshots on Facebook of what he said were more than a dozen fake accounts who had commented on posts criticising his tourism development plans for Albania’s mountain regions. Subscribe to Balkan Insight Premium to read the full article. Please login to your account below if you are already a Premium Subscriber. Buy Premium Subscription Our Premium Service gives you full access to all content published on BalkanInsight.com, including analyses, investigations, comments, interviews and more. Choose your subscription today and get unparalleled in-depth coverage of the Southern and Eastern Europe. Buy Premium Subscription If you have trouble logging in or any other questions regarding you account, please contact us