The challenges we must address include not only the virus, but, to a great extent, also the wave of disinformation, as the COVID‑19 pandemic has created a breeding ground for the spread of fake news. It can be as dangerous to human health and safety as the pandemic itself. At the same time, we cannot be blind to the fact that disinformation has become a tool that some countries use to promote their foreign policy goals, emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 8 September, in her address at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna.
In the panel discussion dedicated to parliaments’ openness, transparency, and accessibility in the context of security, Mūrniece underscored the growing public scepticism about parliamentary democracy, the fragmentation of societies, and the mounting public fatigue from social restrictions introduced during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Tackling hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation online requires a regulatory environment that is in step with the new technological realities, said the Speaker of the Saeima to her colleagues. Ināra Mūrniece also noted that combating these phenomena should not undermine freedom of expression. "The same rights and freedoms that exist offline should also apply and be guaranteed online. Protecting freedom of expression is a central obligation of parliaments in a democratic society," said Mūrniece.
The Speaker of the Saeima stressed that any kind of hate speech should be strongly condemned, including at the parliamentary level, because it undermines not only the freedom of expression, but also the very essence of parliamentary debate. "While criticism about the decisions made and opinions expressed is welcome as part of the democratic culture, it should never turn into threats and intimidation," said Mūrniece.
In her address to colleagues, Mūrniece also called for strengthening independent media and advancing media literacy.
Mūrniece is on a visit to Vienna, Austria, where she is attending the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, as well as the First Global Parliamentary Summit on Counter-Terrorism.
The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is organised by the Inter‑Parliamentary Union and the National Council of Austria. The participants of the Conference have gathered in Vienna to continue discussions, initiated last year in a remote format, on effective and multilateral parliamentary leadership that delivers sustainable development for the people and the planet.
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