Pro-Kremlin bots are starting to speak Latvian

Until recently, most pro-Kremlin bots operated primarily in Russian, but there is a new trend with bots starting to communicate in Latvian, adding a layer of protection for Kremlin propaganda. These Latvian-speaking bots engage in amplifying pro-Kremlin narratives on social media, targeting Latvian audiences with tailored disinformation and emotional messaging. The trend includes spreading fake news narratives about sanctions, Western governments, and NATO, while sometimes mimicking legitimate Latvian social media behavior to avoid detection. The head of emerging communications at the Latvian Center for Strategic Communication, Jānis Krastiņš, highlights how the change to using Latvian allows bots to blend in with local information space more effectively and evade countermeasures. Analysis by Re:Baltica and the Latvian State Security Service indicates an increase in the number and sophistication of such bots over recent months. This shift complicates detection and requires adaptive counter-strategies by Latvian authorities and media.