Riga, April 10 (LETA) - Since the beginning of the pre-election campaign period, the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has found grounds to launch 66 probes on alleged violations of pre-election campaign, LETA has learned.

Most of them, or 36, are related to the possible use of administrative resources. For example, situations when local government MPs may have used local government premises, vehicles or placed publications praising a potential candidate on the local government website/social networks to carry out campaigning activities.

The other probes are related with possible non-compliance with the campaign procedure, use of fake or anonymous social network accounts created by automated systems and other violations of the Law on Pre-election Campaigning, the office said.

The KNAB is currently continuing to assess the information received. So far, no confirmation of illegal activities has been obtained.

As reported, the pre-election campaigning period in Latvia starts on February 8, before the local elections, and will last until the election day - June 7.

During this period, campaigners, media and other stakeholders must comply with the rules and restrictions on electioneering, including two new requirements laid down in the Law on Pre-election Campaigning on the use of artificial intelligence in political advertisements.

With the start of this pre-election campaign period, political organizations, parliamentary candidates and any other campaigner must inform the public if artificial intelligence is used in pre-election campaigning.

This means that video advertisements published on the internet and all other electioneering material whose visual design is based on artificial intelligence tools must contain a clear and unambiguous indication that the material in question was created with the help of artificial intelligence.

In addition, the KNAB reminds that campaigners and other stakeholders are subject to a number of other restrictions during this period.