On 13 October 2026, the Instagram accounts of the independent media outlet Sloboden Pečat were targeted by a coordinated bot attack , the fifth such incident in less than a year, prompting strong condemnation from the SafeJournalists Network. The network warns that the repeated use of large numbers of fake accounts is a form of digital pressure that can manipulate social media algorithms, reduce the visibility of journalistic content, restrict audience access and potentially lead to account suspensions. Stressing that such attacks threaten media freedom, undermine public trust and may intimidate journalists, SafeJournalists has called on the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the incidents as a potentially coordinated pattern and identify those responsible. It also urges Meta to improve the detection and removal of coordinated fake-account networks and provide timely assistance to targeted outlets. Similar attacks reported in Serbia and Albania highlight the regional dimension of threats to independent journalism. Read more here.
Source: SafeJournalists Network