Inquiry Regarding the Situation of Stray Animals in Estonia (No. 659)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, Fourth Session, Plenary Session
Date: 2024-11-18 19:26
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 29m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed inquiry No. 659 regarding the situation with scam calls in Estonia, submitted by several members of the Riigikogu, led by Vadim Belobrovtsev. The Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, responded to the inquiry. Belobrovtsev highlighted the seriousness of the problem, noting that in 2023, 524 people lost nearly three million euros and the total amount of losses is in a continuing upward trend. The inquirers wanted to know the activities of the Ministry of the Interior and the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in reducing the number of victims, the change in the situation since 2020, and the state’s plans to involve banks and telecommunications operators in the fight against scammers, including through legislative changes to place greater responsibility on financial institutions for the security of deposits.
Minister Läänemets confirmed that the number of scam calls is on an upward trend, as scammers are increasingly using advanced technology (AI, automated systems) and social engineering. He emphasized the PPA’s active awareness-raising efforts and international cooperation, citing the successful cyber operation PhishOff led by the Estonian police as an example. Läänemets noted that the PPA, the banking association, and telecommunications operators regularly cooperate in preventing and stopping fraud, and the enforcement of the law does not currently seem necessary. He found that each individual must be vigilant and not share their data, but welcomed the discussion initiated in parliament regarding the demand for greater responsibility from financial institutions. In the continuing debate, Vadim Belobrovtsev proposed using traditional channels, such as postal mail, to reach elderly victims and considered the possibility of creating a separate PPA unit to combat fraud.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev was the most active speaker, presenting the content of the inquiry, clarifying questions, posing clarifying questions to the minister, and making proposals in his closing remarks for improving the situation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The fourth item on the agenda concerns the parliamentary inquiry submitted on 21 October 2024 regarding the situation of scam calls in Estonia (inquiry no. 659), to which the Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets will respond, and on behalf of the inquirers, Vadim Belobrovtsev is asked to clarify his questions.

Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The report highlights that scam calls are a major problem in Estonia, and calls on the government, banks and telecommunications operators to increase cooperation and to consider legislative steps to reduce damages.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked and invited Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets to the Riigikogu's speaking podium.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
During the presentation, it described how the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), in cooperation with banks and telecommunications operators, handles scam calls—through alerts, prevention, and international cooperation—aiming to reduce the number of victims and to continue the discussion on legislative changes, because since 2020 scam calls have increased due to technological development and scammers are evolving further.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks and announces that it is time for questions, and invites Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.

Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They ask two questions: whether the PPA has considered sending by mail a brochure to older people, together with the website address and instructions in three languages (Estonian, English, Russian), and in which countries the call centers are located and why calls are now increasingly made in Estonian.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The presentation emphasizes cooperation and the role of local governments in informing older people, explains that the main locations of call centers affecting Estonian people are in Russian-speaking countries, and highlights the use of AI-based communication and police operations to inform victims and to combat scam calls.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is only an invitation for Lauri Laats to come onto the stage.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats greeted the city of Narva and spoke about the coalition developments there, and mentioned the Social Democrats’ coalition with Mihhail Stalnuhhin, and raised the issue of scam calls, asking whether the lack of investments needed by telecom companies is the reason why they cannot be blocked.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets noted that the technological possibility to display someone else's number is a serious problem, and that telecom operators and other institutions are working on a solution, and he provided clarifications about Narva that the Social Democrats in Narva do not form a coalition and Mihhail Stalnuhhin is a former member of the Centre Party.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked, said that there were no more questions, opened the negotiations and invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.

Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev said that scam calls are a growing and serious problem and must be taken seriously: establish a special department or commission within the PPA, involve banks and telecommunications operators, and organize for parents a three-language direct mailing (Estonian, English, Russian) to teach how to protect themselves from scam calls.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi ended the negotiations and the consideration of the agenda item, informing that after the gavel strike it would be possible to register to speak at the open mic, but there was no interest, thanked everyone for today, and declared the meeting closed.