The Council of Ministers has approved a draft amendment to the Act on the Provision of Electronic Services aimed at more effectively combating illegal content, curbing disinformation, and enhancing user protection. The new regulations will also improve oversight of digital platforms and align Polish law with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Safer Internet for Users
The draft introduces a series of measures designed to make Poland’s digital environment safer. New administrative procedures will enable the swift blocking of content related to specific crimes – including human trafficking, identity theft, online fraud, and the exploitation of minors.
“The amendment will ensure greater transparency and safety online. It is also a tool to counter disinformation, which has recently become a particularly serious threat,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski.
Mechanisms to Protect User Rights
The legislation includes an appeals mechanism allowing users to challenge platform decisions to remove or block content. In cases of erroneous removals, supervisory authorities – the President of UKE (Office of Electronic Communications) or the Chairman of KRRiT (National Broadcasting Council) – will be empowered to order content restoration, safeguarding freedom of speech.
Requests to block content will be handled within set timeframes: 2 days for reports from the police and prosecutors, 7 days for users and “trusted flaggers,” and up to 21 days for particularly complex cases.
Division of Regulatory Responsibilities
Enforcement of the DSA in Poland will be assigned to three institutions:
- President of UKE – acting as the Digital Services Coordinator, responsible for most obligations arising from EU regulations,
- President of UOKiK (Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) – overseeing e-commerce platforms in the area of consumer protection,
- Chairman of KRRiT – handling matters related to video-sharing platforms.
Clearer Rules for Digital Platforms
The bill also provides for:
- simplified procedures for reporting illegal content, goods, and services,
- greater advertising transparency and limits on personal data profiling,
- enhanced protection of minors through age-appropriate interface design,
- identification of businesses on e-commerce platforms,
- certification of out-of-court dispute resolution bodies,
- the option to grant “trusted flagger” status to authorized reporting entities,
- access to platform data for verified researchers.
Additionally, a National Council for Digital Services will be established under the UKE President, including representatives from academia, civil society, and industry.
Public Consultations and Next Steps
The Ministry of Digital Affairs emphasized that work on the draft was preceded by broad public consultations, including a civic hearing at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and a stakeholder conference.
“This is an extremely important law that addresses the real challenges of today’s digital world,” noted Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Dariusz Standerski.
The new regulations are intended to make the Polish internet safer, more transparent, and better at protecting user rights, while also providing clear rules for digital service providers.
