Deputy Minister of Digitalism Paweł Standerski announced in Polsat News the introduction of regulations this year verifying the age of social media users. Regulations are intended to limit minors' access to platforms, with a circumstantial age limit being established after consultation with experts and public debate. The initiative coincides with the pending President's signature with an amendment to the Electronic Services Act to facilitate the removal of illegal content from the internet.
Standerski explained in Polsat News: «I think that specified a provision should be introduced. I don't know what age it is. This should be preceded by an expert study and a serious public discussion». Deputy Minister assured that Poland will have appropriate method tools this year. «This year is the right time to introduce specified regulations in Poland» - he stressed.
Verification by digital wallet
The age verification strategy is to be based on certification by the digital identity portfolio, which will only supply information about the age of the user. Standerski assured in Polsat News that the data would be protected “with the highest level of security”. "This tool is presently being tested in any European Union countries. We learn to usage this tool with these countries» - explained the Deputy Minister.
Australia first in the world
Australia was the first country in the planet to introduce age restrictions for social media users under 16. The government passed last year came into force on October 10. They included platforms specified as Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TickTok, X and YouTube. Non-compliant technology companies can be fined up to EUR 28 million.
The President's appeal
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitization Krzysztof Gawkowski appealed on Friday evening on platform X to president Karol Nawrocki to rapidly sign the Digital Services Act. «There is no consent to criminal law violations and the creation by AI of illegal content that destroys people and psyche. Let us make it clear, that the strategy offends, promotes sexual content and violates the dignity of management and deficiency of ethical principles of the platform" - Gawkowski wrote. He called on the President: «I call on president Nawrocki to sign the Digital Services Act as shortly as possible, and this will make it easier to remove illegal content».
The pending amendment to the Electronic Services Act will let the removal of illegal online content related to 27 prohibited acts. The catalogue includes criminal threats, urging suicide, glorifying pedophile behaviour, promoting totalitarian ideology, hatred speech and copyright violations.
Controversy around regulations
At the end of November last year president Nawrocka assessed the task as “overregulation” of EU rules. Opposition politicians expressed concerns that the law may restrict freedom of expression of Poles on the net and constitute a form of censorship.
In December, the Sejm adopted amendments supported by Senators, which removed the immediate feasibility of the decision of the Office of Electronic Communications and the National Broadcasting Council to block content from the project. The PiS Members called for this. Enforcement of specified decisions now requires a court judgment.
Union context
The Digital Services Act (DSA) has been full in force in the associate States of the European Union since 17 February 2024. Articles 9 and 10 of the DSA let state judicial and administrative authorities to order blocking of content. On the basis of these regulations, 10 billion cases of illegal content have been blocked in the EU. Standerski stressed that “nearly all European Union countries have implemented these provisions”.
Note: This article was created utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI).
