The Latvian parliament (Saeima) has approved amendments to the Protected Services Law that make the use of illegal systems to watch TV services punishable.
The amendments were developed by the State Police in cooperation with the media regulator NEPLP and will see individuals who use such systems for personal (non-commercial) systems face a warning or be subjected to a fine of up to €700.
According to NEPLP, liability has until now been imposed on only one party, for the unlawful manufacture, import, distribution, rental, sale or other disposal of restricted access systems for commercial purposes, and for the installation, installation, fitting or use of illegal systems for commercial purposes. Fines have ranged from €700 to between €350-1,400 for legal entities.
Commenting on the development, NEPLP member Ieva Kalderauska said: “The introduction of the new framework is an important step in encouraging the public to change their content consumption habits and to stop using illegal equipment and systems to watch illegal programmes, including Russian programmes that support Russia’s bloodshed in Ukraine or threaten our country’s security”.
Until now, various illegal solutions or systems have been used in Latvia for the population to watch TV services. There are three common types of illegal connections, namely the so-called “Tricolor TV” boxes, card sharing and unlicensed IPTV.