Poland Ministry of Justice proposes new ATM security regulations

The Polish Ministry of Justice has proposed new legislation aimed at increasing financial market stability and combating fraud. A key component of the proposal involves penalizing individuals who intentionally cover their faces—using masks, scarves, or deep hoods—while using ATMs or cash deposit machines in a manner that prevents identification. Proposed penalties include fines of up to 10,000 PLN or formal reprimands.

Additionally, the project would mandate that ATM and cash deposit machine operators record the images of customers using the devices. These recordings must be stored for 90 days and would be accessible to judicial authorities, including courts, prosecutors, and the police.

The measures are intended to curb cybercrime and financial scams, specifically targeting fraudulent withdrawals such as those involving the BLIK payment system. However, the proposal has raised concerns regarding individual privacy, potential surveillance, and the technical and financial costs for operators who may need to upgrade equipment to meet these new recording and storage requirements.