Main narratives:
- Incompetence of the current government
- General Anti-EU sentiments
- Anti-green deal statements
Overview:
During the examined week, the content largely revolved around two key topics: the implementation of EU Green Deal measures and alleged corruption within the Latvian government. The EU Green Deal was frequently portrayed as being detrimental, particularly to lower economic groups in Latvia, which is depicted as being unfairly disadvantaged compared to other EU member states. Disinformation actors often amplified these narratives, positioning the Green Deal as harmful to the country’s economy and its working-class citizens. Furthermore, the Green Deal was also framed as a tool for corruption, supposedly manipulated by EU bureaucrats for personal gain. In this context, climate change itself was either downplayed or outright denied by the disinformation actors, further undermining the legitimacy of the EU’s environmental initiatives.
When examining platform activity, TikTok emerged as the leading social media platform in terms of reach and engagement, effectively covering both Russian and Latvian-speaking audiences. This demonstrates the platform’s growing influence, particularly among younger audiences. Meanwhile, engagement on X (formerly known as Twitter) has noticeably decreased, signaling a shift in where disinformation actors focus their efforts to reach their target demographics.
