Internet & Online Safety · Latvia
Online safety in Latvia: the EU Digital Services Act (2026)
Latvia shaded by its internet & online safety status
Online safety rules in Latvia: comprehensive law, under EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) directly applicable; national implementation via amendments to the Law on Information Society Services (Informācijas sabiedrības pakalpojumu likums) in force 21 June 2024; Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) designated as Digital Services Coordinator; National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) retains complementary powers over audiovisual/broadcast and national-security website blocking.
Latvia implements the EU Digital Services Act as its primary online safety and content-moderation framework, supplemented by national legislation. Amendments to the Law on Information Society Services entered into force on 21 June 2024, designating PTAC as Digital Services Coordinator with full enforcement powers including on-site inspection and fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover. NEPLP holds parallel powers to block websites threatening national security and, since late 2024, to restrict access to copyright-infringing (piracy) sites.
The Digital Services Act in Latvia
In Latvia, online platforms and intermediaries are governed by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), a directly-applicable regulation covering illegal content, transparency and user protection.
- Framework
- the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065)
- Approach
- notice-and-action on illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms, and protection of minors
- Applies to
- online intermediaries, hosting services and platforms offering services to users in Latvia, wherever established
- Very large platforms
- platforms and search engines with 45M+ EU users face extra systemic-risk audits, overseen by the European Commission
- Maximum fine
- up to 6% of global annual turnover
- Oversight
- the national Digital Services Coordinator, plus the European Commission for very large platforms
The DSA is an EU regulation applied directly in Latvia; the national Digital Services Coordinator handles day-to-day supervision.
The Digital Services Act in Latvia: FAQ
Yes. As an EU member, Latvia is covered by the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), which applies directly.
Notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms of service, and measures to protect minors.
The national Digital Services Coordinator, with the European Commission supervising very large online platforms and search engines.
Up to 6% of a provider's global annual turnover for serious breaches.
Key points
On 27 February 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to the Law on Information Society Services to transpose DSA obligations; the amended law entered into force on 21 June 2024, making Latvia one of the earlier EU states to complete formal national adaptation of the DSA.
PTAC (Consumer Rights Protection Centre) became Latvia's DSC on 21 June 2024, empowered to request information, conduct warrantless on-site inspections, issue compliance orders, and impose fines up to 6% of worldwide annual turnover (periodic penalties up to 5% of average daily turnover for ongoing non-compliance).
In its first annual report covering 2024, PTAC recorded 288 orders requiring restriction of intermediary services (predominantly gambling-related) and received 3 formal DSA breach complaints; the number of complaints is projected to grow substantially in 2025.
In 2024, twelve Latvian public authorities signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to coordinate DSA enforcement across sectors, ensuring PTAC can draw on sector-specific regulators (gambling, financial services, telecoms) when handling cross-domain complaints.
Under Electronic Communications Law amendments adopted 10 March 2022, NEPLP may order ISPs and the .lv registry to block websites containing content that endangers national security. A further December 2024 amendment to the Copyright Law added NEPLP authority to block piracy websites.
Latvia applies DSA Article 28 obligations on platforms accessible to minors and has an active Safer Internet Centre raising public awareness. No standalone national age-verification statute exists; Latvia relies on the EU DSA framework and the European Commission's age-verification blueprint (published July 2025) for implementation guidance.
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