---
title: "\"The Kremlin's Silent Allies\": Poland Threatens Social Media with Fines for Inaction Against Russian Disinformation"
description: "Polish Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski accused social media of acting as \"silent allies\" of Russian disinformation and threatened fines for unfulfilled government requests. According to NASK, platforms responded to only a quarter of 65,000 fake content reports."
date: 2026-10-21T13:05:08.823Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/poland-threatens-social-media-fines-russian-disinformation
tags: [poland, social-media, disinformation, russia, digital-war, nask, moderation, krysztof-gawkowski]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "The Kremlin's Silent Allies": Poland Threatens Social Media with Fines for Inaction Against Russian Disinformation

![A man in a suit speaks at a podium during the Warsaw Security Forum](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/21/polsha-prigrozila-socsetyam-shtrafami-za-rossijskuyu-dezinformatsiyu/polsha-prigrozila-socsetyam-shtrafami-za-rossijskuyu-dezinformatsiyu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Polish Digital Affairs Minister Gawkowski called social media "silent allies" of Russia in the digital war
- NASK sent platforms over 65,000 reports on fakes in the first half of 2026, but only 7% of content was removed
- Warsaw demands platforms create Polish-speaking moderation teams and reduce response times
- Failure to comply with government requests threatens platforms with financial sanctions

Polish Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has issued a sharp rebuke against major social media platforms, stating that they effectively act as "silent allies" of Russia in the digital war unleashed against Europe. According to the head of the ministry, insufficient action by platforms against Russian disinformation allows bots and fake accounts linked to the Kremlin's GRU to freely spread false information. Gawkowski emphasized that Warsaw has issued a number of specific demands to the companies and warned that any government request left unfulfilled will trigger a financial sanctions procedure.

### Scale of the Problem: 65,000 Reports and 7% Removals

A key argument supporting the minister's accusations came from data provided by the Polish research institute NASK. In the first half of 2026, the organization sent social media platforms more than 65,000 reports regarding identified fake accounts and instances of disinformation spreading. However, according to NASK, the platforms responded to less than a quarter of these appeals. Only 7% of the reported cases resulted in content removal, while just over 17% underwent moderation. Gawkowski regarded these figures not as technical inefficiency, but as "conscious actions by platforms that profit from disinformation, use it, and view it as a source of revenue."

### Warsaw's Demands: Polish Moderators and Instant Bot Deletion

As part of its demands, the Polish government has ordered social media platforms to establish effective moderation teams operating in Polish and maintaining direct, real-time communication with organizations reporting suspicious content. Gawkowski also demanded the elimination of what he called "fictitious appeal procedures," the immediate removal of any detected bot networks, and a substantial reduction in response times to reports. The minister explicitly stated that failure to comply with government requests will be met with financial sanctions.

### Context: Digital War and Campaign Ahead of Independence Day

Gawkowski's speech came against the backdrop of an intensified Russian disinformation campaign timed to coincide with Poland's Independence Day. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), Moscow actively spread fakes regarding the deterioration of relations between Warsaw and Kyiv, as well as alleged Polish "fatigue" with supporting Ukraine. The CCD believes the Kremlin's strategic goal is to weaken the unity of the European community and undermine international support for Kyiv. The Digital Affairs Minister's statement was part of a broader government response to this campaign.

### What's Next: Sanctions as a Pressure Tool

The threat of financial sanctions by Poland aims to turn voluntary moderation into a mandatory condition for platforms operating in the Polish market. If Warsaw implements its stated course, it could become one of the first precedents where a European state directly fines social media companies for inadequate responses to specific content categories. For platforms, this means restructuring local moderation processes and building an institutional dialogue with the regulator in a format that has never existed before.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Россия ведет цифровую войну": Польша пригрозила соцсетям штрафами за российские фейки](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rosiya-vede-tsifrovu-viynu-polshcha-prigrozila-1792587499.html) - All key facts (Gawkowski's quotes, NASK data on 65k reports and 7% removals, moderator requirements, threat of sanctions) are taken from the original source without distortion.

## FAQ

### How many reports on fakes did NASK send to social media in the first half of 2026?

Over 65,000 reports regarding fake accounts and disinformation instances.

### What percentage of submitted appeals resulted in content removal?

According to NASK, only 7% of reported cases resulted in content removal, and just over 17% underwent moderation.

### What specific demands did Poland make of social media platforms?

Creation of Polish-speaking moderation teams with direct real-time communication, elimination of fictitious appeal procedures, immediate removal of bot networks, and reduced response times to appeals.

### What awaits platforms for failing to comply with government requests?

According to Minister Gawkowski, any government request left unfulfilled will trigger a procedure to impose financial sanctions.