iPhone language gap can expose Latvian users to Russian content

Apple’s iPhones do not offer Latvian as an interface language, potentially steering users who do not understand English or other available languages towards Russian-language online content, LSM reports.

In an article by Anete Bērzkalne, a fact-checker and disinformation researcher with Latvian Radio’s news service, LSM explains that a phone’s interface language can influence the language of content shown in websites and apps. Choosing Latvian on a device signals that the user would prefer to see content in Latvian, while selecting Russian can lead to Russian-language versions of online resources.

Latvia has worked for several years to limit the spread of Russian propaganda and disinformation, including by blocking websites and banning the retransmission of Russian television channels. But messages from Kremlin-backed outlets can still reach residents through less obvious routes, the article says.

Cybersecurity researcher Elviss Strazdiņš, founder of the Digital Security Centre, also discussed how language settings can affect what users see online.