There is evidence suggesting that pro-Kremlin bots are acquiring proficiency in the Latvian language, and using it as a means to spread propaganda within Latvia. This shift may signify a preliminary move ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, according to insights from the Latvian journalistic initiative Re:Baltica.
Previously, many Latvian speakers felt their language acted as a protective barrier against Kremlin-driven propaganda. The ease of detecting linguistic errors from non-native speakers can lead to suspicions regarding the authenticity of certain online commentaries, casting doubt on the true intentions behind them.
Re:Baltica highlights a potential change in this landscape, as the pro-Kremlin propaganda apparatus focuses on improving language capabilities and expanding its influence.
Recent observations by Latvian social media users noted a surge in bot activity, with thousands of accounts suddenly engaging in Latvian discourse to defend hockey players who still play in Russia. This followed widespread public outrage in Latvia over the performance of these players in Kazan.
The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga estimates that over a thousand bots participated in this operation, disseminating messages in Latvian.
Janis Sarts, director of the Re:Baltica Center, noted this marked the first large-scale operation conducted in the Latvian language after seven years of monitoring troll activities on platforms like X.
Sarts suggests the operation aimed either to whitewash certain events or to test strategies ahead of the European Parliament elections. He warns that while these actions may seem simplistic, they represent just a fraction of potentially more sophisticated tactics to come, such as using tools like ChatGPT to create even more convincing and authentic-seeming tweets. He urges continued vigilance in the face of such developments.
Re:Baltica highlights a potential change in this landscape, as the pro-Kremlin propaganda apparatus focuses on improving language capabilities and expanding its influence.
Recent observations by Latvian social media users noted a surge in bot activity, with thousands of accounts suddenly engaging in Latvian discourse to defend hockey players who still play in Russia. This followed widespread public outrage in Latvia over the performance of these players in Kazan.
The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga estimates that over a thousand bots participated in this operation, disseminating messages in Latvian.
Janis Sarts, director of the Re:Baltica Center, noted this marked the first large-scale operation conducted in the Latvian language after seven years of monitoring troll activities on platforms like X.
Sarts suggests the operation aimed either to whitewash certain events or to test strategies ahead of the European Parliament elections. He warns that while these actions may seem simplistic, they represent just a fraction of potentially more sophisticated tactics to come, such as using tools like ChatGPT to create even more convincing and authentic-seeming tweets. He urges continued vigilance in the face of such developments.
Source: rebaltica.lv
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