Database

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LATVIA

Since June 2014
Since March 1999

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU

Consumer Rights Protection Law (Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības likums)
The Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU provides an updated framework aimed at encouraging online sales. The Directive has been implemented by the Consumer Rights Protection Law.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of signature of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Latvia has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Latvia has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Latvia has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

Since March 2010, entry into force in May 2010, last amended in 2018
Since July 2010, as amended in November 2020, last amended in September 2022

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Local content requirements (LCRs) on ICT goods for the commercial market
EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS)

Electronic Mass Media Law (Elektronisko plašsaziņas līdzekļu likums)
The EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) covers traditional broadcasting services as well as audiovisual media services provided on-demand, including via the Internet. Art. 13.1 provides for Member States to secure a minimum 30% share of European works in the catalogues as well as "ensuring prominence" of those works. "Prominence" involves promoting European works by facilitating access to such works using any appropriate means to ensure their prominence. The Directive has been implemented by Member States in different ways, ranging from very extensive and detailed measures to a mere reference to the general obligation to promote European works.
In Latvia, the EU Directive was transposed into domestic law through the amendment of the Electronic Mass Media Law of November 2020 (LV, 223, 17.11.2020). According to Art. 23.5 of the Law, electronic media providers offering on-demand audiovisual services must ensure that at least 30% of their catalogue consists of European audiovisual works. Additionally, Latvia has not implemented financial contribution obligations for VOD service providers.
Coverage On-demand audiovisual services

LATVIA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Presence of independent telecom authority
It is reported that the Public Utilities Commission (SPRK), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

LATVIA

Since June 2021, entry into force in January 2022
Since October 1992, entry into force in January 1993, until January 2022

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Accounting Law (Grāmatvedības likums)

The Law on Accounting (Likums Par grāmatvedību)
Pursuant to Section 27 of the Accounting Law, accounting registers and their source documents (including employee data) must be stored within Latvia if maintained in paper format. However, electronic versions of these accounting documents may also be stored in other EU countries. With the enactment of the Accounting Law in 2022, the 1992 Law on Accounting was repealed. Under Section 6 of the repealed law, all accounting registers and their corresponding source documents were required to be stored within Latvia.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

Since April 2016, entry into force in May 2018
Since July 2018

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Framework for data protection
General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679)

Personal Data Processing Law (Fizisko Personu Datu Apstrādes Likums)
The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides a comprehensive framework for data protection that applies to all EU Member States. The Personal Data Processing Law implemented the GDPR.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

Since May 2006
In April 2014
Since 2009

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC

Judgment European Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others

Electronic Communications Law (Elektronisko Sakaru Likums)
Under the EU Directive on Data Retention, operators were required to retain certain categories of traffic and location data (excluding the content of those communications) for a period between six months and two years and to make them available, on request, to law enforcement authorities for the purposes of investigating, detecting and prosecuting serious crime and terrorism. On 8 April 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared the Directive invalid. However, not all national laws that implemented the Directive have been overturned.
In Latvia, the Directive has been implemented through amendments to the Electronic Communications Law and still applies today.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

LATVIA

Since July 2000
Since November 2004, last amended in May 2024

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive)

Information Society Services Act (Informācijas sabiedrības pakalpojumu likums)
The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level. Latvia has transposed Directive 2000/31/EC.
The Information Society Services Act and its amendments of 2005, 2009 and 2011 transpose the E-Commerce Directive into Latvian law. The Law aims to promote the free movement of information society services between Latvia and EU/EEA members, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a clear framework for the liability of intermediaries.
Coverage Internet Services Providers

LATVIA

Since July 2000
Since November 2004, last amended in May 2024

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive)

Information Society Services Act (Informācijas sabiedrības pakalpojumu likums)
The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level. Latvia has transposed Directive 2000/31/EC.
The Information Society Services Act and its amendments of 2005, 2009 and 2011 transpose the E-Commerce Directive into Latvian law. The Law aims to promote the free movement of information society services between Latvia and EU/EEA members, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a clear framework for the liability of intermediaries.
Coverage Internet Services Providers

LATVIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2023

Pillar Content access  |  Indicator Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking Russian websites
Recent tensions with Russia have induced Latvian regulatory authorities to block Russian websites for geopolitical reasons and possibly part of the European sanctions regime. 91 websites were blocked. Of these, 20 websites were shut down for violating sanctions imposed by Russia during the war, and 71 sites have been blocked for spreading Kremlin propaganda, including three social media platforms: VKontakte ("In Contact"), Odnoklassniki ("Classmates") and email portal Moi mir ("My world").
Coverage Russian websites

LATVIA

Since March 2004, last amended in February 2014
Since February 2017

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU)

Procurement Law for Public Service Providers (Sabiedrisko pakalpojumu sniedzēju iepirkumu likums)
Art. 85 of the Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU) contains provisions allowing contracting public entities to reject foreign goods not covered by any EU international commitments from its tender procedures. In these cases, a tender submitted for the award of a supply contract may be rejected where the proportion of the products originating in third countries exceeds 50% of the total value of the products constituting the tender (Art. 85.2). Additionally, in cases of equivalent offers, the provisions provide for a preference for European tenders and tenders covered by EU's international obligations. In practice, this possibility has rarely been used.
In Latvia, the Directive has been transposed with the Procurement Law for Public Service Providers.
Coverage Any product sold to a utility provider including software used in telecommunication network equipment

LATVIA

Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Lack of transparency in public procurement
It is reported that some investors perceive a lack of fairness and transparency in Latvian public procurements. Several companies, including foreign firms, have complained that bidding requirements are occasionally drafted with input from potential contractors or are phrased in a way that favours certain "preferred" contractors, thereby excluding others.
Coverage Horizontal

LATVIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2023

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Open environment for foreign investment
It is reported that there are no ban or limits on foreign ownership in Latvia.
Coverage Horizontal

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