Poland implements new law banning patostreaming and deepfakes

New legislation prohibiting ‘patostreaming’ entered into force in Poland on Sunday. The law targets the public dissemination of online content depicting violence, humiliation, or animal abuse. Under the new regulations, individuals face up to three years in prison for spreading content that violates personal rights or involves the mistreatment of animals, even if the subject has consented.

If the content involves a minor, the penalties increase to a range of three months to five years in prison. Notably, the law extends to simulated and digitally generated content, including deepfakes. The legislation aims to curb creators who profit from human misery and hate speech, which Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski noted had previously operated without sufficient legal control.

The law includes exceptions for content produced for artistic, educational, journalistic, scientific, or public interest purposes. Authorities have noted that reports of harmful content can be submitted through the dyzurnet.pl platform or the ‘Bezpiecznie w sieci’ option within the mObywatel application.