The Polish government announced on Friday that it was preparing a new law to limit the power of social networks like Facebook and Twitter to delete content and close accounts.
According to this project, the sites could only take such initiatives if the publications violate Polish law.
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The text provides for the creation of a "
council for freedom of expression
" comprising five members to examine complaints from users of social networks whose accounts have been closed or content removed.
“
The law will provide tools to guarantee the fundamental freedoms of Polish citizens on the internet,
” Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told reporters.
The new legislative framework will require these "
global players
" to "
respect Polish law while
" today social networks alone decide what content is censored, "he added.
Council members, who cannot be politicians, will be appointed by Parliament for six years.
“
The council will protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression on all social networks operating in Poland,
” the minister said.
These measures could take effect in January 2022, according to Sebastien Kaleta, a senior justice minister responsible for the case.
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After the recent closure of the accounts of outgoing US President Donald Trump via Facebook and Twitter in particular, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denounced the “
political correctness
” of digital platforms and assured that Poland would fight for European legislation protecting freedom of expression on these networks.