In Latvia, there is renewed discussion on how to block websites with Russian propaganda and illegal retransmission, so that after the two-year ban expires, they cannot even return to access for a few days.
The head of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights and Public Affairs, Leila Rasima ("Progressives"), reported that information was received: on Monday of this week, the National Council for Electronic Media (NEPLP) sent a letter to service providers stating that they must restore access to those websites that have been restricted within three days. According to Rasima, the list of these websites is quite extensive, and among them is a site that falls under sanctions.
Rasima inquired how NEPLP arrived at such a situation and whether the council sought solutions.
The chairman of NEPLP, Ivars Abolins, emphasized at the meeting that the council is merely adhering to the amendments to the law that the Saeima approved back in 2021. Specifically, the law stipulates that NEPLP can block specific pages for a period of up to two years. After that, the council is obliged to lift the restriction and check whether this site continues to violate retransmission rules. If the violation is confirmed, the site is blocked again.
In turn, the temporary unblocking of a site that falls under sanctions was a "human error," which has already been corrected, Abolins noted.
Thus, if a site continues to violate retransmission conditions after two years of restriction, it can operate without hindrance in Latvia for several days, as the re-blocking does not occur immediately.
This possibility for such sites to operate for several days without obstacles raised objections from some members of the Saeima commission. Rasima asked Abolins whether NEPLP planned to propose amendments to the law on this issue. Abolins replied negatively, stating that NEPLP cannot initiate amendments to the law at all.
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