Event 186

{
  "category": "InfoOps",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "The information comes from a detailed investigation published by Latvia's national broadcaster, referencing sources such as the NATO StratCom Centre and providing concrete examples (screenshots, multilingual bot posts) to establish authenticity.",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "A new wave of pro-Kremlin propaganda bots have begun posting in Latvian, increasing the sophistication of efforts to target Latvian-speaking audiences with Kremlin-aligned narratives and disinformation.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-03-12T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Multiple screenshots within the article show bot accounts posting typical propaganda images and content in Latvian.",
    "Monitoring and attribution referenced by the NATO StratCom Centre and Baltic security researchers.",
    "Descriptions of the transition from Russian/English to Latvian-language activity highlight increased targeting of local information spaces."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "Pro-Kremlin bots are starting to speak Latvian",
    "Until now, many Latvian speakers have believed that language gave them an extra layer of protection against Kremlin propaganda.",
    "New pro-Kremlin bots are now manipulating discussions in Latvian.",
    "Some of the posts were aimed at creating controversy or polarizing opinions between Latvians and Russian speakers.",
    "The team monitoring the networks includes researchers, journalists and the NATO StratCom Centre."
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/media/12.03.2024-pro-kremlin-bots-are-starting-to-speak-latvian.a546380/"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Lang-Specific Propaganda",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Multiple screenshots within the article show bot accounts posting typical propaganda images and content in Latvian.",
            "Monitoring and attribution referenced by the NATO StratCom Centre and Baltic security researchers.",
            "Descriptions of the transition from Russian/English to Latvian-language activity highlight increased targeting of local information spaces."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "fifth_column_countries": [
    "LV"
  ],
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "headline": "Pro-Kremlin 'bots' are starting to speak Latvian",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_186_1763918951_000ff3f0.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "Pro-Kremlin propaganda beginning to speak in Latvian language.",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/media/12.03.2024-pro-kremlin-bots-are-starting-to-speak-latvian.a546380/"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Pro-Kremlin bots have begun disseminating propaganda and disinformation in Latvian, targeting Latvian-speaking users and making it harder to distinguish fake accounts.",
  "url": "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/media/12.03.2024-pro-kremlin-bots-are-starting-to-speak-latvian.a546380/"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "LV",
  "Attack Type": "lang-specific Propaganda",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "LV",
  "Date": "12-Mar-24",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "Pro-Kremlin propaganda beginning to speak in Latvian language.",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "5th Column- Propaganda ??Russian botnet is starting to speak ??Latvian",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/media/12.03.2024-pro-kremlin-bots-are-starting-to-speak-latvian.a546380/",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}