Digital spaces are increasingly becoming a pressure point for civic voices in Southeast Europe, where environmental activists, independent media, and anti-corruption groups face growing risks from online harassment, surveillance concerns, disinformation, and legal intimidation. Monitoring by BIRN shows that attacks are often targeted at actors challenging entrenched political or economic interests. Environmental defenders have been among the most frequently targeted groups, with organisations such as Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania reporting cyberattacks amid advocacy against large development projects. In Serbia, investigations also raised concerns about alleged spyware use linked to surveillance of activists protesting lithium mining projects. Experts warn that digital repression in the region is often gradual, leaving journalists and civil society actors increasingly vulnerable. Read more here.
Source: Balkan Insight
