Unfriendly countries and organisations actively use misleading information to influence our values and behaviour. One of the objectives of this propaganda is reducing the unity of Latvian residents, their resilience and willingness to defend themselves, says former parliamentary secretary to Latvia’s Ministry of Defence Viesturs Silenieks.
The best defence against fake information and hateful propaganda is critically assessing the source of said information.
Here are ten principles about disinformation
The objective of those who spread disinformation is causing a panic and weakening our readiness to defend our country. Don’t help them – help your own people.
Remain calm and do not go to social media to vent your frustration.
Latvia defends itself and continues fighting for its territory. If you hear the opposite – it’s not true.
Don’t trust and don’t believe information from dubious sources. Reliable information comes from official state institutions’ websites and public media broadcasts.
Do not participate and do not spread information about movements of Latvian armed forces and NATO forces. Only hand this information to those who defend you.
Latvia executes a defensive war. Latvia has no plans to attack other countries.
The aggressor will spread different rumours about troops and military top brass so that the government loses public trust. This is why information that cannot be checked is spread. Always compare information with official sources.
Information about losses can be reported only by security institutions and Latvian armed forced. Any information about alleged weakness and losses of Latvian armed forces is intentionally misleading to undermine moral of troops and civilian residents’ will to resist.
The aggressor and his officials will spread lies and information about traitors. They may use symbols used by state organisations in attempt to create convincing content.
The objective of the enemy side is fracturing Latvia’s society and undermining belief in our armed forces from the inside. People in Latvia are very different and their opinions may not coincide on all topics. The only idea residents should have a united stance is pushing out the occupant. In crises people should not divide into races, genders, nationalities, sexual orientation, language and regions. People should support one another!
If internet connection is cut or hacked into and government websites sabotaged, residents should turn on the TV. If television offers no information, the radio is the next best source of information.
Disinformation – one of the biggest threats during a war. How to deal with it?
