Latvian police say they have caught banned channel TV technician

Law enforcement officers of the Riga Regional Department of the State Police completed an investigation into a criminal case against a man suspected of engaging in a business activity that is specifically prohibited – the unauthorized programming and sale of TV consoles. "With the help of these devices, users were able to access programs that are prohibited in Latvia and excluded by the National Electronic Media Council (NEPLP, Latvia's broadcast media regulator), which threaten national security," said the State Police. Most such banned channels are Russian propaganda outlets. The case dates back some time. On October 16th, 2025, criminal proceedings were initiated and during the pre-trial investigation, it was established that a man born in 1958 had been selling modified TV consoles for several years, with which users could connect to online sites through which they can watch television channels, including those which the NEPLP has excluded on national security grounds. It was established that the man sold an average of about ten consoles per month after buying them on the websites “AliExpress”, “Banggood” and “Geekbuying” and then programming them himself. On February 16, 2026, the State Police detained the suspect and searched his residence, during which they found and seized cash worth 2,755 euros and 13 TV consoles. On June 2, 2026, a judge at the Riga City Court accepted the State Police's decision to seize the property. On August 3, 2026, law enforcement officers of the 1st Division of the 3rd Bureau of the Criminal Police Department of the Riga Regional Department of the State Police made a decision to transfer the criminal proceedings materials to the Riga East Prosecutor's Office for the initiation of criminal prosecution against the individual who, in line with standard Latvian legal practice, has yet to be named. A trial is pending. "Illegal distribution of content causes significant harm not only to content creators and service providers who comply with regulatory enactments, but also to society as a whole. In the current geopolitical situation, protecting the information space is extremely important. Illegal distribution of content significantly affects the creation of high-quality content and legal services, and the use and availability of such resources also affects the rights of other individuals, as these resources often process data without the consent of individuals, and there is a risk of encountering fraud attempts," said the State Police.