Central Election Commission pushes online ad monitoring reforms

The Central Election Commission (KQZ), in partnership with International IDEA, the Rule of Law Centre of Finland, and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Albania (BIRN), hosted a policy dialogue on “Strengthening Election Integrity through Monitoring of Online Political Ads.” The event gathered media representatives, civil society, international organizations focused on elections, and global experts to address challenges in ensuring electoral transparency ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections.

Key issues:

• State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi emphasized the need for stronger regulations. “Our current legislation covers political party financing adequately, but it is insufficient for online advertising,” Celibashi noted. KQZ has proposed amendments to Parliament, aiming to close legislative loopholes concerning online campaigns and ad monitoring.
• The amendments suggested by KQZ, backed by civil society, seek to establish clearer rules for online campaigning and ads. “Even without comprehensive electoral reform, KQZ is committed to optimizing the existing regulatory framework for monitoring the 2025 election campaign,” added Celibashi.

Growing influence of online campaigns: As in many parts of the world, the significance of online campaigning in Albania has surged, often rivaling traditional media’s influence. The political battlefield has increasingly shifted to social media platforms, where substantial resources are invested. However, Albania’s regulatory framework and monitoring capabilities remain severely inadequate. There is no specific legislation or institutional structure responsible for overseeing online political content, leaving a significant gap in election oversight.

International perspectives: Experts from Moldova and Finland shared strategies on legislation, collaboration with tech giants, and effective monitoring practices. They highlighted how different nations handle the evolving digital landscape to protect electoral integrity. Participants also discussed the rapid pace of digitalization, which continues to reshape political campaigning. This transformation has raised concerns about transparency, funding sources, and the spread of political content online. The need for voters to access timely, accurate information remains a major hurdle, especially with inadequate regulations for online media campaigns.

Next steps: Attendees agreed that monitoring political campaigns across traditional and digital media requires innovative, improved methodologies. Effective oversight is essential regardless of regulatory levels, ensuring that elections remain fair and transparent in the digital age.