On February 1, 2021, a new draft act on freedom of speech on social media platforms appeared on the Polish Ministry of Justice website.
Works on the draft act, originally announced by the ministry in December last year, gained momentum in mid-January amid Twitter and Facebook blocking Donald Trump’s accounts, which the Polish government viewed as censorship.
The Minister of Justice said that freedom of speech and debate is the cornerstone of democracy and censoring statements, especially online, where most political discussions and ideological disputes take place these days, infringes on those freedoms. Therefore, Poland should have regulations in place to prevent abuse on the part of internet tycoons, which are increasingly limiting this freedom under the auspices of protecting it.
The new law aims to protect the constitutional freedom of speech, as well as the individual personal interests that anonymous internet users may violate.