Online safety & content laws in Poland (2026)
Online safety rules in Poland: comprehensive law.
Online content moderation and platform liability in Poland are governed by the EU Digital Services Act, which has been directly applicable since 17 February 2024 and imposes the full set of notice-and-action, transparency, trusted-flagger and very-large-platform obligations. However, Poland is the only EU member state that has not enacted national legislation designating an empowered Digital Services Coordinator: the implementing bill passed by the Sejm on 21 November 2025 was vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki in January 2026 over free-speech/censorship concerns, leaving enforcement in limbo. A separate government bill on age-verification and protecting minors from harmful online content remains a draft.
Legal framework
EU Digital Services Act (Regulation 2022/2065), directly applicable in Poland since 17 Feb 2024; national implementing law (amendment to the Act on Providing Services by Electronic Means) NOT yet in force, vetoed by the President in January 2026. Designated/temporary authorities: President of UKE (Office of Electronic Communications) as Digital Services Coordinator, with UOKiK (consumer/marketplace) and KRRiT (audiovisual) holding sectoral roles.
The Digital Services Act in Poland
In Poland, online platforms and intermediaries are governed by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), a directly-applicable regulation covering illegal content, transparency and user protection.
- Framework
- the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065)
- Approach
- notice-and-action on illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms, and protection of minors
- Applies to
- online intermediaries, hosting services and platforms offering services to users in Poland, wherever established
- Very large platforms
- platforms and search engines with 45M+ EU users face extra systemic-risk audits, overseen by the European Commission
- Maximum fine
- up to 6% of global annual turnover
- Oversight
- the national Digital Services Coordinator, plus the European Commission for very large platforms
The DSA is an EU regulation applied directly in Poland; the national Digital Services Coordinator handles day-to-day supervision.
Key points: internet & online safety in Poland
DSA directly applicable
As an EU regulation, the DSA applies in Poland without transposition since 17 Feb 2024, governing illegal-content removal, notice-and-action mechanisms, platform transparency, and obligations on very large online platforms, these rules bind platforms regardless of the national enforcement gap.
Presidential veto stalls national enforcement
On 21 Nov 2025 the Sejm passed the bill implementing the DSA, but President Karol Nawrocki vetoed it in January 2026, citing censorship risks and 'gold-plating' (national content-blocking powers exceeding the DSA). Poland is the only EU state without a fully empowered Digital Services Coordinator.
Designated authorities (UKE / UOKiK / KRRiT)
The President of UKE is set to be the Digital Services Coordinator (temporarily entrusted with the role by a Council of Ministers resolution effective 15 May 2025), with UOKiK handling online-marketplace/consumer aspects and KRRiT covering audiovisual content. Until the law is in force, the UKE President has no decision-making powers over providers.
Infringement risk from European Commission
The Commission opened infringement proceedings against Poland for failing to designate a Digital Services Coordinator and lay down penalty rules by the February 2024 deadline; continued non-compliance exposes Poland to CJEU financial penalties (figures of ~EUR 8-10 million have been discussed).
Age verification / protection of minors (draft)
A government draft law published February 2025 (consultation ended 26 March 2025) would require pornographic sites to deploy age verification blocking minors, and other services to conduct documented risk analyses. It remains a draft; the data-protection authority (PUODO) objected in June 2025 that verification methods were left unspecified. A separate citizens' bill (212,000 signatures) was submitted to the Sejm in December 2024.
Platform liability baseline
Intermediary liability follows the DSA's conditional liability exemptions (hosting/caching/mere conduit), replacing the older e-Commerce framework; Poland's pre-existing Act on Providing Services by Electronic Means (2002) is the vehicle being amended to add DSA enforcement and penalties.
The Digital Services Act in Poland: FAQ
Does the Digital Services Act apply in Poland?
Yes. As an EU member, Poland is covered by the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), which applies directly.
What does the DSA require of platforms in Poland?
Notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content, transparency reporting, clear terms of service, and measures to protect minors.
Who enforces the DSA in Poland?
The national Digital Services Coordinator, with the European Commission supervising very large online platforms and search engines.
What are the penalties under the DSA in Poland?
Up to 6% of a provider's global annual turnover for serious breaches.
Timeline of decisions
- LawSejm Passes DSA Implementation Bill, Act on Providing Services by Electronic Means Amended
The Polish Sejm passed the bill amending the Act on Providing Services by Electronic Means to implement the EU Digital Services Act, designating the President of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) as national Digital Services Coordinators. The bill came more than 21 months after Poland missed the February 2024 EU deadline and while facing CJEU infringement proceedings.
Traple Konarski Podrecki & Partners
- Enforcement · officialEuropean Commission Refers Poland to CJEU for DSA Non-Implementation
The European Commission referred Poland (alongside Czechia, Spain, Cyprus, and Portugal) to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to designate and empower a national Digital Services Coordinator and for failing to establish a domestic penalty regime under the DSA, both obligations that were due by 17 February 2024. The referral opened the litigation phase of the infringement procedure.
European Commission
- GuidanceMinistry of Justice Publishes Social Media 'Anti-Censorship' Draft Bill
Poland's Ministry of Justice published a controversial draft law on freedom of speech on social media, triggered by platforms suspending Donald Trump's accounts. The bill would have banned platforms from removing content not violating Polish law, created a 'Freedom of Speech Council', and imposed fines up to €11 million on platforms for unlawful takedowns. RSF and EDRi warned it would enable state-directed censorship; the bill was never enacted and was effectively superseded by DSA negotiations.
European Digital Rights (EDRi)
- Law · officialMandatory Gambling Domain Blacklist Established
Under the amended Gambling Act, Poland launched a public register of blocked gambling domains managed by the Ministry of Finance (later the Opole Customs and Fiscal Office). ISPs must block listed domains within 48 hours and payment operators must refuse transactions to them. By October 2025 the register contained over 51,000 entries, Poland's first systematic statutory website-blocking infrastructure.
UKE — Office of Electronic Communications
Sources
- uke.gov.pl/en/digitalservices/
- traple.pl/en/implementation-status-of-the-digital-services-act-in-poland/
- edri.org/our-work/presidents-veto-further-delays-the-implementation-of-the-dsa
- law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/poland-the-dsa-rebel-presidential-veto-stalls-implementati
- europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-000131_EN.html
- twobirds.com/en/trending-topics/digital-services-act-tracker-and-uk-online-safety-
- dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2025/3/new-potential-obligations-regard
- ibanet.org/preventing-minors-access-to-harmful-content-poland
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 25 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026