Polish Senate Passes Bill to Block Illegal Online Content Amid Censorship Fears

On Tuesday, the Polish Senate passed a revision granting courts and designated agencies the power to order the removal of illegal content from the internet, a step toward implementing the EU Digital Services Act. The law covers offenses such as online fraud, identity theft, human trafficking, promotion of totalitarian regimes, counterfeit sales, and illicit trade, requiring internet service providers and platforms to block the specified material.

Affected users may request reinstatement after a mistaken block, first using the provider’s reporting mechanism before appealing to a court, which will review the legality of the content. Marcin Przydacz, head of the presidential Office of International Policy, indicated that the President is weighing the bill’s provisions, stressing child protection while rejecting any tool that could become a censorship instrument. He warned that if the law includes censorial mechanisms, the President is unlikely to change his stance. In urgent cases, prosecutors, police, the tax administration and border guard can seek immediate blocking, especially for content exploiting children.