A new article by LaSER researcher Roberts Kits and leading researcher at the University of Latvia, Ieva Birka, titled “See Nothing, Hear Nothing, Say Nothing”, has been published on the Ir.lv platform. The article examines citizens’ willingness to identify and report suspicious activities in the capitals of the Baltic states.
Drawing on a representative survey of residents in Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn, the authors find that while most citizens are able to recognise critical infrastructure and identify potentially suspicious activities, far fewer are willing to report them to the responsible authorities. For example, only 31% of respondents in Riga indicated that they would be willing to report suspicious activities openly. The most common barriers include doubts about whether reporting would make a difference, uncertainty about how to report correctly, and concerns about the possibility of an innocent person being punished.
The authors argue that societal resilience in today’s security environment depends on active public engagement. The article also explores how digital technologies and clear reporting mechanisms can encourage greater citizen participation in strengthening national security, drawing on examples from both the Baltic states and elsewhere in Europe.
The full article in Latvian, “See Nothing, Hear Nothing, Say Nothing”, is available here.