For young activists across Kosovo, Albania, and Serbia, the internet is not just a tool, it is a space for organizing, learning, protesting, and being heard. Social media platforms host campaigns, messaging apps coordinate projects, and online platforms amplify voices that might otherwise remain invisible. But as digital spaces expand, so do the risks. Surveillance, harassment, censorship, data misuse, and legal intimidation are becoming everyday realities for many activists in the Western Balkans.
Available in English, Serbian, and Albanian, the Guidebook: Digital Rights for Young Activists in Kosovo, Albania, and Serbia is designed to help young people better understand their digital rights, advocate for stronger protections, and stay safe in increasingly hostile online environments. It speaks to activists, students, journalists, and civil society actors who rely on digital tools to challenge power, mobilize communities, and demand accountability. Rather than treating digital rights as abstract legal concepts, the guide connects them directly to everyday activism and democratic participation.
At its core, the guidebook emphasizes a simple, but powerful idea: digital rights are human rights. Since 2012, the United Nations has affirmed that the same rights people enjoy offline must also be protected online. This means that freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, and equality do not disappear when we log onto the internet. Instead, they become even more important, as digital technologies increasingly shape how we communicate, organize, and participate in public life.
Technology has significantly lowered barriers to expression and connection, making it easier than ever to share ideas, organize collectively, and mobilize support. At the same time, these developments expose serious risks, including unequal access to digital spaces, government interference, and the corporate misuse of personal data. Digital rights, as the guide argues, should therefore not be understood merely as technical regulations or narrow state obligations. Instead, they must be situated within a broader human rights framework grounded in transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination.
Privacy and personal data protection receive special attention, particularly in light of growing data collection and surveillance. However, the guide also looks beyond privacy, drawing attention to other rights that are increasingly affected by technology. Algorithmic decision-making can reinforce discrimination, digital tools in court can raise fair trial concerns, and predictive technologies may even influence freedom of thought. In this evolving digital landscape, protecting rights requires constant vigilance and active engagement.
The guidebook places digital rights firmly within the political and social realities of the Western Balkans. While internet access and digital infrastructure have improved significantly, democratic institutions in the region remain fragile. Media literacy is uneven, public awareness of data protection is low, and institutions often struggle to enforce existing laws. These weaknesses create fertile ground for digital rights violations.
Across Kosovo, Albania, and Serbia, activists and citizens face common challenges: mass and targeted surveillance, online harassment, censorship, data breaches, lack of transparency, and the spread of disinformation. In Serbia, for example, the Hiljadekamera project deployed facial recognition cameras in public spaces, raising concerns about mass surveillance and abuse. Other real-life cases referenced in the guide such as social cards and data breaches, show how leaked databases, coordinated online attacks, and opaque digital systems can be used to intimidate, silence, or control dissenting voices.
At the same time, it’s important to recognize the internet as an essential space for civic engagement. Online platforms enable protests, campaigns,and cross-border solidarity, especially in societies transitioning from authoritarian practices toward democratic governance. This dual nature of digital spaces (as both empowering and dangerous) makes digital rights protection a crucial issue for anyone committed to social change.
One of the guide’s key contributions is its accessible overview of legal and policy frameworks that shape digital rights in the region. Readers are introduced to the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, which outlines the EU’s vision for a people-centered digital transformation grounded in inclusion and democratic values. Although not legally binding, the declaration sets an important political standard that activists can use to hold institutions accountable.
The General Data Protections Regulation (GDPR) is also explained, highlighting how it strengthens individual control over personal data and establishes clear responsibilities for organizations. For Western Balkan countries pursuing EU accession, aligning with GDPR presents both opportunities and challenges. Strong laws alone are not enough and meaningful protection depends on proper implementation, enforcement, and active public engagement. Activists, civil society groups, and independent institutions all play a vital role in ensuring that data protection rights are realized in practice.
The final sections of the guide shift the focus from understanding digital rights to actively defending them. Readers are given practical research tools such as freedom of information requests, open-source intelligence, and crowdsourcing, which can strengthen advocacy efforts. These methods are paired with guidance on turning research findings into strategic campaigns by identifying allies, choosing the right timing, and selecting effective advocacy tools, ensuring that activism is both informed and impactful.
Protecting one’s own digital rights is equally crucial. Basic cyber hygiene, like securing devices backing up data, and using safe networks is essential for sustainable activism. In environments of surveillance and harassment, digital safety acts as both self-case and resistance. By combining legal knowledge, advocacy skills, and practical safety measures, young activists can navigate digital spaces confidently, defending not just technology, but democracy, dignity, and their ability to shape the future.
‘This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo (YIHR KS) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.’