Croatia’s Disinformation Landscape: A Deep Dive into Declining Trust, Legal Battles, and Emerging AI Threats
Croatia faces a complex disinformation landscape characterized by declining public trust in media and institutions, a barrage of legal actions against journalists, and the emergence of AI-generated disinformation. This confluence of factors creates a challenging environment for accurate information dissemination and poses a significant threat to democratic processes. The erosion of trust, coupled with legal pressures and technological advancements, necessitates a thorough examination of the Croatian disinformation ecosystem.
Public trust in Croatian news sources is waning. The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2024 reveals a decline in trust from a 2021 high of 45% to a concerning 32% in 2024. This decline mirrors a broader trend of declining trust in democratic institutions, with citizens demonstrating more confidence in security forces than in parliament or government. While television remains the primary news source for the majority of Croatians, online news consumption, including social media, reaches a vast audience. However, a minuscule percentage of online users pay for news content, raising concerns about the financial sustainability of quality journalism and its ability to combat disinformation. Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp play significant roles in news dissemination, highlighting the importance of addressing disinformation on these platforms.
The Media Pluralism Monitor 2023 paints a worrying picture of media freedom in Croatia. The country faces medium risks related to fundamental protection, political independence, and social inclusiveness, while market plurality poses a high risk. This consistent pattern over recent years underscores the systemic challenges facing the Croatian media landscape. A significant obstacle confronting journalists is the staggering number of legal actions filed against them. Between 2016 and 2021, over 3,000 civil proceedings and nearly 400 criminal lawsuits were initiated against journalists. These figures, coupled with the Croatian Journalists’ Association’s 2023 survey indicating at least 945 active lawsuits, paint a stark picture of the legal pressures exerted on media professionals. A significant portion of these lawsuits are categorized as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), designed to intimidate and silence critical voices. Croatia’s high ranking among EU countries for SLAPP cases underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
Disinformation ecosystems in Croatia are relatively well-established, primarily driven by far-right political actors, public figures, anonymous social media profiles, and fringe media outlets. These actors propagate conspiracy theories and disseminate disinformation on various topics, including climate change, gender equality, science, and migration. Alarmingly, research indicates a significant overlap between actors spreading COVID-19 disinformation and those now targeting climate change. This suggests a persistent network of disinformation actors adapting their narratives to exploit current events. The evolving nature of these ecosystems necessitates continuous monitoring and analysis.
The emergence of synthetic media generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools adds a new layer of complexity to the Croatian disinformation landscape. While AI-generated content has primarily been used for humorous and satirical purposes involving political figures, the potential for malicious exploitation is evident. The detection of AI-generated videos designed for financial fraud and data theft raises serious concerns about the increasing sophistication of disinformation tactics. While no instances of AI-generated disinformation aimed at influencing elections have been detected yet, the proactive approach of one political party in creating an "AI politician" as an educational tool highlights the awareness of this emerging threat.
The convergence of declining public trust, legal pressures, established disinformation actors, and the rise of AI-generated content creates a complex and challenging environment in Croatia. Addressing this multi-faceted issue requires a comprehensive strategy involving media literacy initiatives, legal reforms to protect journalists from SLAPPs, robust fact-checking efforts, and continuous monitoring of evolving disinformation tactics. Furthermore, international collaboration and the sharing of best practices are crucial in combating the transnational nature of disinformation campaigns. The stakes are high, as the erosion of trust in information sources and institutions poses a significant threat to the democratic fabric of society.
The fight against disinformation in Croatia requires a sustained and collaborative effort involving government agencies, media organizations, civil society groups, and tech companies. Strengthening media literacy among the public is critical to empowering citizens to critically evaluate information and identify disinformation. Legal reforms are needed to protect journalists from SLAPPs and ensure they can report freely without fear of undue legal harassment. Fact-checking organizations play a vital role in debunking false narratives and promoting accurate information. Continuous monitoring of online platforms and the identification of emerging disinformation tactics, including the use of AI-generated content, are essential. By working together, these stakeholders can create a more resilient information environment and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes in Croatia.
