TIRANA, October 5 /ATA/ –The representatives from domestic institutions and international partners gathered for a panel discussion on enhancing national resilience and protecting the public information space from hybrid threats, information manipulation and disinformation.
During the discussions, representatives from the National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK), the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEPJ), and the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) emphasized the importance of a comprehensive, coordinated response.
Bledar Kazia, Director General of the National Cyber Security Authority, stated that “The true target of the attacks is public trust.”
Kazia added that technology and the use of artificial intelligence have made information manipulation more sophisticated and scalable. According to him, cyber incidents are often accompanied by targeted disinformation campaigns aimed at the public; the primary target is not merely technical infrastructure, but rather citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and the country’s European path. Kazia highlighted that Albania, as a NATO member and an EU candidate country, is strengthening its defense capabilities, including the establishment of dedicated teams for open-source intelligence investigation.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Megi Fino emphasized that the rapid verification of news, strategic and credible communication with citizens regarding the EU integration process and the deepening of international cooperation with NATO, the EU, and the Hybrid Centre remain key pillars in this process.
“EU integration brings increased attention and potentially makes the region more of a target for foreign manipulation, which requires daily institutional coordination,” said Fino.
On her part, AMA Chairwoman Armela Krasniqi addressed the regulatory challenges facing the media landscape in the digital age.
Krasniqi highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the authority to establish direct channels of cooperation with major global platforms like TikTok and X (Twitter) to address citizen complaints and harmful content.
Meanwhile, Martha Turnbull, Director of the Hybrid Influence Community of Interest at Hybrid CoE, remarked that, “The historical examples we have seen of Iranian cyber activity targeting Albania serve as a truly concrete example.”
“The information environment in which we are currently operating across Europe remains a constant target for hybrid threat actors, particularly regarding disinformation. I would not say that Albania is exempt from this, as I believe all European countries are affected by these threats,” she emphasized. /p.s./
