Poland passes law allowing officials to block illegal online content

The Polish Sejm has passed legislation aimed at blocking illegal online content, a move that has sparked significant political controversy regarding potential administrative censorship. The law, supported by the governing coalition including KO, Lewica, PSL, and Polska 2050, seeks to combat hate speech and ensure digital safety.

Under the new regulations, the President of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and the Chairperson of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) will have the authority to issue decisions to block illegal content. If content removal is deemed impossible, entire domains can be added to a special register, requiring internet service providers to block access to them.

Opposition politicians, specifically from the Konfederacja party, have criticized the measure. Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik warned that the tools could be used to eliminate political competition by allowing officials rather than courts to decide what constitutes illegal speech. Critics argue that transferring this power from the judiciary to politically appointed officials poses a risk to democratic processes and freedom of expression.