Establishes criminal liability for attempting to influence election results with the help of deep falsification technology

In order to establish criminal liability for attempts to influence election results with the help of deep fake technology and to ensure the right of voters to participate in fair and free elections, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Criminal Law in the third reading on Thursday. The amendments will enter into force the day after their announcement, the press service of the Saeima reports.

The right of voters to participate in fair and free elections is one of the basic values ​​of democracy, while fair regulation of the pre-election campaign is an essential prerequisite for fair and free elections, the authors of the bill note.

With the amendments, criminal liability is established for knowingly producing or distributing false discrediting information about a political organization (party) or an association of political organizations (parties), a candidate for a member of the Saeima, municipal council or European Parliament, using deep forgery technology, if this is done during the pre-election campaign period or on election day.

Such a criminal offense may be punished by imprisonment for a period of up to five years, temporary imprisonment, probation supervision or community service.

The authors of the draft law emphasize that the photo, video and audio materials created by deep forgery technologies have become a part of pre-election campaigns. For example, content created by deep spoofing technologies aimed at undermining the reputation of a candidate has been detected in the pre-election campaigns of Argentina, Slovakia and Poland, the authors say, noting that a large number of potential voters admit that they are already unable to recognize content created by deep spoofing technologies.

With the amendments, the law was supplemented by establishing criminal liability for the use of an automated data processing system for the purpose of preventing persons from participating in elections, proposing a law or popular vote, popular vote and supporting the initiative of European citizens. Imprisonment for a period of up to five years, temporary imprisonment or probation supervision may be applied for this.