Inhabitants of Latvia's border regions continue to access media from Belarus
In the border regions of Latvia, a unique challenge arises as residents show a preference for Russian and Belarusian media, largely due to cultural and linguistic ties, and the continued travel and interaction between the regions. This preference persists despite Latvia's efforts to block Russian propaganda websites to counter misinformation and protect national security.
To address this issue, Latvia has taken measures such as blocking hundreds of Russian propaganda websites since 2022. The National Electronic Mass Media Council actively identifies and blocks websites that justify Russia's war on Ukraine or glorify occupation, helping to limit the reach of disinformation. They rely on public reports, government alerts, and their own monitoring to enforce these blocks.
However, the fight against propaganda is not limited to legal restrictions. The public service media is planning to increase its presence on the eastern border as part of the efforts to strengthen local media. Additionally, commercial media, including regional media, are receiving both direct and indirect support to strengthen their presence.
Despite these efforts, it seems there is no effective solution to limit the consumption of Russian and Belarusian media in border areas. Industry experts note that the radio and television signal does not stop at borders and cannot be limited. This is evident in the village of Silene, where residents can receive Belarusian and Russian radio stations within 10 kilometers from the border.
The consumption of neighboring media, particularly Russian media, is a common practice among locals in border villages of Latvia. Residents like Ivars from Asūne find enjoyment in watching popular presenters on weekends, while others, like Stepans from Silene, listen to neighboring media to learn about current events and feel they are not criticized.
The media landscape in Latvia is not without its challenges. A recent survey on media literacy in Latvia shows that 40% of the population does not fully understand the media system and its principles. To address this, the Ministry of Culture aims to solve the issue by strengthening local media and providing content that the public finds interesting.
In summary, Latvia's approach combines legal restrictions on harmful media content with border controls and monitoring, aiming to safeguard its informational space from destabilizing propaganda while balancing realities of cultural and economic cross-border contact. The challenge remains for Latvia to strike a balance between protecting its national security and preserving its cultural ties with neighbouring countries.
- In an attempt to counterbalance the influence of Russian and Belarusian media, the media landscape in Latvia is striving to strengthen local media, including public service media and commercial media, to deliver content that resonates with the public.
- Although Latvia has imposed legal restrictions on Russian propaganda websites since 2022 and relies on various methods to identify and block disinformation, the borderless nature of radio and television signals remains a challenge, with residents in border villages being able to access neighboring media channels.
- As the Latvian government grapples with the challenge of limiting the consumption of Russian and Belarusian media in border areas, lifestyle and general-news content from local media are being used as an alternative to engage the public, thus promoting media literacy and a better understanding of the media system and its principles among the population.
