DISINFO: Lithuanian politicians will use virtual police patrol against freedom of opinion
SUMMARY
The hatred in Facebook splits Lithuanian society. Police reacted. Society will be watched by a virtual patrol.
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The costs of the attack on freedom of opinion could be high not only for society but also for the authorities. People could not like this way to control society. Serfdom was abolished in Lithuania 150 years ago.
It is a pity that the Lithuanian police pushed to intimidate society. Shame on Lithuanian politicians who are afraid of a free society and are using a “cyber patrol” against it.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania, accusing state authorities of persecuting freedom of speech and opinion.
The initiative of a “virtual patrol” or “cyber patrol” was announced by the Lithuanian police at the beginning of March 2021. It is a preventative measure against hate speech on social networks. The “cyber patrol” will monitor online content, mark comments which violate Lithuanian law, and issue a warning to its authors.
The head of Lithuanian police Renatas Požėla stated that at the beginning, the virtual patrol will be made up of only three officers. They will also use some automated solutions to monitor the information space. The main point of the virtual patrol is to fight against hate, racial and sexual crimes in social networks.
See more examples of Kremlin disinformation accusing Lithuania of having transformed into a totalitarian society, where any alternative opinions are rejected or talking about a witch hunt against Russian-language print media.