The quiet, often invisible machinery of global democracy is facing a sobering reality check following recent allegations against an Israeli firm known as BlackCore. For years, the digital public square has been vulnerable to sophisticated manipulation, but the emergence of a centralized entity allegedly orchestrating smear campaigns across borders marks a chilling evolution. French authorities, alerted by the astute monitoring of Viginum—the nation’s specialized disinformation watchdog—have launched a formal investigation into the firm’s activities. The suspicion is that BlackCore has moved beyond the fringes of political consulting to become a mercenary force capable of swinging local electoral outcomes, specifically by…

The Western Balkans find themselves at a precarious crossroads, where the echoes of the 1990s wars continue to distort the present. A profound analysis titled “Media Coverage of Dealing with the Past,” supported by the German organization Pro Peace, reveals a region struggling under the weight of historical revisionism, political polarization, and persistent disinformation. While countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia face significant structural hurdles, Serbia stands out as the most entrenched example of systematic resistance to transitional justice. In this environment, the media is rarely an impartial observer; instead, it is often a tool used to…