With the highest level of internet access in the western Balkans, Kosovo faces vast threats to its information integrity. NDI’s global mission in supporting and strengthening democratic institutions recognizes this growing threat to democratic institutions and political and social fabrics globally. While the internet has empowered billions with access to knowledge, it has also empowered those seeking to undermine democracy. Since 2019, NDI/Kosovo has worked to identify the risks to Kosovo’s democracy by holding conferences to raise awareness of this threat and by monitoring and reporting on the online information environment that is especially vulnerable to threats to information integrity.

NDI held its fifth conference on information integrity, DISICON, on May 11 in Pristina, Kosovo, with the overarching theme of “Cybersecurity: Is disinformation the next big threat?” The conference brought together local, regional, and international experts from various fields to analyze and understand citizens’ vulnerabilities to disinformation in the online information space and the importance of collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector in addressing cybersecurity threats globally.DISICON's program also included a cyber attack simulation exercise facilitated by the Geneva Center for Security Governance and the Metamorphosis Foundation - a member of NDI’s Regional Information Integrity Forum. The simulation, the first of its kind at DISICON, brought together participants from political parties, NGOs, and media to test their readiness and capabilities to respond to cyber attacks, illustrating the importance of educating staff on cybersecurity practices and conducting regular vulnerability assessments. During the one-day event, 150 guests participated in person, and 30 participants attended the simulation exercise. 

World-renowned experts, scholars, and political figures, including the keynote speaker Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, enriched the discussion on a range of topics, including cybersecurity legislation, inter-institutional cooperation in addressing cybersecurity-related challenges, and media literacy in improving society’s cybersecurity resilience.

A conference summary can be downloaded below.

This conference summary and the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) Information Integrity Conference - DISICON - in Kosovo are made possible through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).