VDD implements enhanced measures to ensure free and fair Saeima elections

Latvian State Security Service (VDD) is closely evaluating developments in the society and the information space during the pre-election period in order to timely identify and prevent attempts to illegally influence the course and results of the 15th Saeima elections.

Also during the elections, VDD, in cooperation with State Police and other state and local government institutions, will implement enhanced security measures to ensure free and fair elections.

Within the scope of VDD’s competence is identifying and preventing attempts by both foreign nationals and Latvian nationals to illegally influence the course and results of elections.

VDD assesses that, in order to influence public opinion and the election outcome, Russia can potentially intensify disinformation campaigns in Latvia’s information space against political parties and candidates who strongly oppose Russian aggression and support Ukraine. VDD currently has not identified significant and systematic attempts by Russia or other countries hostile towards Latvia to influence the results of the Saeima elections in favour of any political party or candidate. At the same time, VDD has identified and currently assesses individual attempts to disseminate disinformation that are related to elections and specific political parties.

Even though there are currently no direct indications, VDD assesses that provocations initiated by Russia or Belarus during the election period cannot be ruled out – attention-grabbing activities that aim to influence the election process or results.

VDD does not rule out attempts to illegally influence voters’ choices, including the so-called vote buying. However, no such attempts have been identified thus far.

VDD urges every member of the public to provide information any cases where payment or any other material or non-material goods have been promised in exchange for voting for a political party or a candidate, or if freedom of choice has been influenced in other illegal ways, such as by threats or violence. In such cases, VDD urges to record a detailed description of the nature of the infringement and the individuals involved. If possible, it is also crucial to record any such infringements in a visual or audio format (voice recordings, photos or videos). VDD also urges to note any information that can be used to identify the individuals – name, surname, phone number or social media account, the correspondence (in the form of a screenshot or a downloaded file), licence plate number of the vehicle, etc.

VDD also urges to provide information identified cases of deliberately creating or disseminating false discrediting information a political party or candidate using deepfake technology. In such cases, VDD urges to send both the AI-generated or altered video or audio file or picture, and information the location and time the content was found (such as a hyperlink to the content and the profile of the disseminator).

All information regarding potential infringements should be sent by e-mail to velesanas(abols)vdd.gov.lv , or by calling the Service’s 24-hour phone +371 6720 8964. VDD guarantees the confidentiality of the information and its source.

Information prepared by VDD Illustrative photo: VDD

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