On 9 May, Parliament approved amendments to the Criminal Law, which criminalise the use of deep fake technology to influence an election process. Deep fakes refer to photos, video, audio and other media that have been digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence. The changes make it illegal to produce or disseminate information made using deep fake technology that is intentionally inaccurate to discredit political parties and electoral candidates standing in parliamentary, local or European Parliament elections. The criminal offense carries a maximum five-year jail sentence (but can also entail community service), and applies to content created or circulated as part of the pre-election campaign or on election day. The law entered into force on 22 May. On the same day, President Edgars Rinkēvičs proposed further amendments to the Criminal Law which extend to the use of deep fake technology to influence an ongoing election, appointment or confirmation process of a public official by the Parliament.

Sources: Saeima (1), Saeima (2), Likumi, LV, Delfi, Office of the President, LSM

On 6 March, the President promulgated amendments to the Law on Associations and Foundations, which make it mandatory for NGOs to specify their “scope of activity,” namely to clarify the nature of their operations. The changes are intended to fill data gaps in the activities of NGOs and improve monitoring to reduce the vulnerability of civil society. The Ministry of Justice has observed underreporting when such classification is voluntary. Further, the amendments make it easier for authorities to liquidate inactive NGOs, or those with financial violations, in order to counteract “shell organizations” used for money laundering and terrorist financing. In its most recent review, experts in the Council of Europe’s MONEYVAL committee recommended that Latvia systematically identify non-profit organisations at a higher risk of financing of terrorism. According to a 2019 report from the Latvian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), NGOs generally do not provide direct terrorist financing but can act as intermediaries to attract funding and conceal the money’s purpose or use.

Sources: Saeima Press Service, Saeima, Likumi, Vestnesis, LV, Council of Europe, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, FIU

On 21 March, Parliament approved amendments to social benefits legislation which enable parents, foster families or out-of-family carers to apply for disability-related benefits on behalf of young people who are unable to express the will to claim benefits due to severe functional limitations and health disorders, once they reach the age of majority (18). In such situations, young people with disabilities, who relied on support as minors, can continue to receive benefits when they reach adulthood and become legally competent. Previously, young people with disabilities relied on a decision from more time-consuming court procedures to receive support, via the establishment of guardianship.

Sources: Saeima Press Service, Saeima, Likumi, Vestnesis, LV (1), LV (2)

On 15 February, the Constitutional Court found that requirements for Russian citizens holding Latvian permanent residence permits to certify their knowledge of Latvian language comply with the Constitution and are proportionate with the duty of the state to defend national security and defend the national language. Amendments to the Immigration Law, adopted in 2022, gave Russian citizens until September 2023 (later extended to November) to demonstrate basic Latvian language skills in order to maintain a permanent residence permit. The ruling found that the provisions of the Immigration Law provide citizens of Russia with a “real opportunity” to obtain the legal grounds to continue staying in Latvia. The application was submitted by Russian citizens holding permanent residence permits. The Kremlin has objected to the amendments, and has sought to play up perceived unequal treatment of the Russian ethnic minority to create rifts in Latvian society and strengthen Russian identity in the diaspora in Baltic states.

Sources: LSM, Latvian Constitutional Court, Baltic Times, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Deutsche Welle

The Parliament has passed amendments to ensure municipal referenda can be conducted in the period before the roll-out of the electronic voter register. Municipal referenda were initially planned to be introduced on 1 January 2024, but were held up over insufficient technical and logistical preparedness. The amendments make it possible to vote in municipal referenda using registration envelopes in-person at local government polling stations in cases where the electronic systems do not work or cannot be used for cybersecurity reasons. It will be possible to initiate a municipal referendum as of 1 September 2024 electronically. The compromise expedites the introduction of municipal referenda, which the Interior Ministry had proposed to postpone until 2026, accelerating the possibilities for participation in decision-making on local issues.

Sources: Saeima (1), LSM, Saeima (2), Saeima (3), Saeima (4)