Polish prosecutors have requested international legal assistance from the United States and China to identify social media users suspected of posting offensive content targeting the young daughter of Karol Nawrocki.
Background of the controversy
Following the presidential election last year, Karol Nawrocki appeared at a rally accompanied by his family, including his then 7-year-old daughter, Kasia. While many viewers reacted with sympathy to the girl’s animated behavior, the public display also triggered a wave of negative commentary and hate speech online.
Marta Nawrocka, wife of Karol Nawrocki, later urged the public on social media to protect children from such vitriol. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Monika Horna-Cieślak, also condemned the abuse, affirming that no child should be subjected to such hostility and calling for the reporting of offensive materials.
Scope of the investigation
The Warsaw-Mokotów District Prosecutor’s Office is currently handling two major investigations concerning insults directed at the child. Authorities have analyzed approximately 30,000 entries, many of which originated from reports filed with the Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
The investigation faces procedural hurdles, as many reports consist of screenshots rather than direct links, making it difficult to trace the original authors. Furthermore, prosecutors note that not all critical comments meet the legal threshold for insults or threats.
International legal requests
Polish authorities have submitted requests for legal assistance to the United States to obtain user data from platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These efforts are complicated by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which often leads to the refusal of requests that do not involve explicit terrorist threats.
A separate investigation regarding content posted on TikTok has been suspended pending cooperation from Chinese authorities. This specific case is considered severe as it involves alleged public incitement to commit a crime.
Prosecutorial outlook
While several initial cases were dismissed—sometimes leading to court-ordered reviews—prosecutors maintain that legal action is forthcoming. Although no charges have been filed yet, Prosecutor Piotr Antoni Skiba of the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office stated that some authors of the online posts will ultimately face criminal liability.