#36 At the Epicenter: Disinformation and Hate in North Macedonia

What happens when disinformation doesn’t just mislead, but actively fragments a society?

In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Lydia El-Khouri speaks with Bardhyl Jashari, Director of Metamorphosis Foundation in North Macedonia. From coordinated disinformation campaigns to rising distrust in institutions and increasing inter-ethnic tensions, Bardhyl describes how sustained information manipulation is shaping public opinion, and undermining democratic processes.

The conversation explores how disinformation operates in waves, how it fuels hate speech and societal fragmentation, and why civil society, media, and institutions must work together to build resilience. It also looks ahead: from the role of AI in countering harmful content to the potential ripple effects of EU regulation like the Digital Services Act beyond EU borders.

A powerful insight into how disinformation becomes a systemic challenge, and what it takes to push back.