Poland introduces family law reforms and privacy protections

Poland is implementing significant changes to its family law and administrative procedures. Starting August 23, new templates for marriage-related documents will be introduced to align Polish procedures with evolving legal environments, particularly regarding the recognition of statuses involving unions established abroad.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Justice is preparing regulations to combat ‘sharenting’—the practice of parents posting children's images online without regard for their privacy. The proposed reforms would introduce a legal obligation for parents to protect a minor's privacy. In extreme cases, such as ‘parental trolling’ where a child is repeatedly exposed to ridicule or danger online, courts could potentially limit or revoke parental authority.

The reform also aims to grant greater autonomy to minors. Upon reaching the age of 16, individuals will gain the exclusive right to decide on the publication of their own image, including the power to revoke previous consents and demand the removal of existing online photos.