The Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) has moved to significantly tighten its national security framework by advancing a legislative package designed to criminalize disinformation and aggressive war propaganda. The proposal, which passed its first reading with broad political support, introduces specific legal definitions for information-based crimes and targets the technical infrastructure often used to facilitate coordinated influence operations.
Initiated by Daiva Ulbinaitė, a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) faction, the package consists of amendments to five separate laws. The primary objective is to create a more robust “information shield” for the Baltic state, which has long been a primary target for hybrid threats and state-sponsored propaganda from neighboring Russia and Belarus.
Defining Disinformation as a Criminal Offense
One of the most significant changes introduced by the legislation is a concrete legal definition of disinformation. Under the proposed amendments to the Law on Provision of Information to the Public, disinformation is defined as intentionally created, presented, or distributed false or misleading information. To qualify as a crime, this information must be intended to deceive the public, influence elections or referendums, or harm Lithuania’s national security, constitutional order, or public interest.
By codifying these definitions, the state aims to move beyond reactive measures and establish a clear legal basis for prosecution. The legislation also explicitly addresses “aggressive war propaganda,” ensuring that the promotion of military aggression against other nations carries severe legal consequences. Currently, the Lithuanian Criminal Code covers espionage and the glorification of war crimes but lacks specific provisions for systemic propaganda and information aggression. The new proposals would bridge this gap, offering sentences of up to five years in prison for those found guilty of such activities.
The Crackdown on ‘SIM Clusters’
The legislative package also takes aim at the technical tools used to automate disinformation campaigns, specifically targeting what are known as “SIM clusters.” The Electronic Communications Law would be amended to define “automated subscriber identity module (SIM) equipment”—hardware capable of managing five or more SIM cards simultaneously or alternately to perform automated communication tasks.
These devices are frequently used by “bot farms” to create thousands of fake social media accounts or to send mass automated messages. The new law would prohibit the acquisition, use, possession, or transport of such equipment unless it is used for legitimate electronic communications business. Authorities would be granted the legal power to intervene quickly to stop the use of these devices, with administrative fines ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 for a first offense, and up to €6,000 for repeat violations, alongside mandatory confiscation of the hardware.
Mandatory Obligations for Digital Platforms
The reform also shifts the burden of responsibility onto social media networks, video platforms, and news aggregators. Currently, the removal of dangerous or misleading content often relies on the voluntary cooperation of global tech giants—a process that Lithuanian officials argue is frequently ineffective.
The proposed amendments to the Law on Information Society Services would mandate that these platforms implement “effective technical and organizational measures” to remove information identified by state institutions or to block access to it. Simply labeling information as potentially misleading would no longer be considered sufficient. To enforce this, the Office of the Inspector of Journalist Ethics would be granted expanded powers to issue binding orders to platforms, moving away from the current system of non-binding recommendations.
Next Steps and Broader Political Context
The package has been developed in collaboration with legal experts from Vilnius University, the Communications Regulatory Authority, and the Ministry of Culture. It has already garnered significant cross-party support, evidenced by the formation of a temporary parliamentary group dedicated to strengthening national information resilience, which includes 26 members from various political backgrounds.
As the legislation moves to the committee stage for further deliberation, the focus remains on balancing national security with democratic freedoms. Proponents argue that the measures are a necessary response to an era of “total information warfare,” where digital tools are weaponized to destabilize the state. For UK observers and international legal experts, the Lithuanian model represents one of the most aggressive legislative attempts within the EU to treat disinformation not just as a social nuisance, but as a direct threat to the constitutional order.
Source: BNS
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