Polish mayor Karol Nawrocki blasted the Tusk administration on Monday, 27 October, warning that a new law would curtail free speech by enabling administrative content blocks.
Nawrocki’s Warning
On 27 October, Karol Nawrocki posted on social media that the deadline for public hearings on the government’s draft law amending the Electronic Services Act had passed. He condemned the bill as a disguised attempt by the Tusk administration to limit free speech under the guise of combating illegal content and misinformation.
“It’s better to voice concerns before they try to silence you,” Nawrocki urged, emphasizing the need for public participation before the law’s implementation.
Bill’s Supervisory Structure
The draft proposes that oversight of the Digital Services Act’s application in Poland fall to three bodies: the President of the Office of Electronic Communications, the National Radio and Television Council, and the President of the Office of Competition Protection and Consumers.
Grounds for Blocking and Appeals
The legislation would allow citizens, police, and prosecutors to request blocking orders for illegal content. The procedure would cover seventeen–seventeen‑one categories, including human trafficking, identity theft, internet fraud, glorification of pedophilia, and totalitarian propaganda.
It also establishes an appeal mechanism, permitting users to challenge platform decisions to delete or block content.
Impact on User Rights
The law aims to strengthen platform supervision and promote cooperation between Polish regulators and EU bodies, but critics worry it risks excessive censorship and undermines user freedoms.