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Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stressed the need to counter malicious propaganda and disinformation during the Autumn Session of the Assembly on Tuesday, 1 October in Strasbourg, France.

“Propaganda, especially one of its very popular components – information manipulation and disinformation – is around us every day. Russia attacks our societies every day and minute. We see this particularly clearly when we look at attempts to reduce the support of democratic countries to Ukraine or attempts to divert Moldovan society from the path to integration into the European Union,” Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica said in her address to the Assembly.

Our adversaries use various social platforms to gradually undermine faith in democracy and democratic institutions through targeted reports and manipulative campaigns. Often, the aim of third-country influencers is to increase polarisation of our societies and contradictions between different groups of society, said the Head of the Latvian delegation.

“To protect our societies and values, we need to actively fight against malicious and false information. Therefore, it is essential to urgently develop effective strategies to protect society and prevent the spread of propaganda and disinformation,” Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica said.

“We must not lose our values in this fight: we must not undermine freedom of expression or information. That is why it is a difficult task,” said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica. At the same time, a strict line must be drawn between malicious disinformation campaigns and freedom of expression, she stressed.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica stressed that the fight against propaganda should not be underestimated. Specific, bold responses are needed whenever we encounter concrete, targeted harmful actions against society.

The Assembly approved a report on propaganda and freedom of information in Europe, stressing the need to fight harmful propaganda in an effective and coordinated manner. Countries are recommended to develop strategies that take into account threats while strictly protecting freedom of expression and information.

Cooperation between the media and the internet industries is essential for the development of a democratic society and for the fight against harmful propaganda. Furthermore, it is important to ensure an independent and trustworthy media environment, including properly supported public service media, as stated by the Assembly in its resolution approved on 1 October.

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica stays in Strasbourg, France, until 4 October, during the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

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Saeima Press Service