Polish parliament passes bill allowing administrative internet censorship ahead of elections

On Thursday, the coalition parties KO, Lewica, PSL and Polska 2050 passed a controversial bill that authorises the blocking of "illegal" online material, effectively creating a mechanism for state-run internet censorship. The first version of the law was blocked in January by President Karol Nawrocki, and the final decision now rests with him. Critics such as professor Adam Wielomski warned that the law would empower a politically selected committee, appointed by the minister of digital affairs, to determine factual truth and punish media outlets financially, undermining constitutional safeguards against preventive censorship.

The legislation also allows agencies like UKE, with police assistance, to seize servers of online platforms. The vote tally was 242 in favour, 61 against and 136 abstentions, with most opposition coming from members of the Law and Justice party and other smaller groups. Observers see the move as an attempt to control information ahead of upcoming elections.