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Poland has formally requested the European Commission to investigate TikTok after the platform hosted artificially generated content calling for Poland’s withdrawal from the European Union, government officials announced Tuesday.
The investigation request comes after videos featuring AI-generated young women dressed in Polish national colors advocating for “Polexit” gained significant traction on the platform in recent weeks. The profile behind these videos has since been removed from TikTok, following growing concerns about its authenticity and purpose.
Deputy Digitalization Minister Dariusz Standerski emphasized the severity of the situation in his letter to the European Commission. “The disclosed content poses a threat to public order, information security, and the integrity of democratic processes in Poland and across the European Union,” Standerski wrote, highlighting the potential far-reaching consequences of such disinformation campaigns.
Polish authorities have accused TikTok of failing to meet its obligations as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under EU regulations. The Digital Services Act, which came into force last year, requires major platforms to take proactive measures against illegal content and misinformation, with potential fines reaching up to 6% of global revenue for non-compliance.
“The nature of the narratives, the manner in which they are distributed, and the use of synthetic audiovisual materials indicate that the platform is failing to comply with the obligations imposed on it,” Standerski added, suggesting TikTok’s content moderation systems failed to detect and remove harmful synthetic content designed to undermine democratic institutions.
A Polish government spokesperson strengthened these allegations Tuesday, stating that the content was “undoubtedly Russian disinformation” based on linguistic analysis that revealed Russian syntax patterns in the recordings. This assessment aligns with broader European concerns about Russia’s ongoing information warfare campaigns targeting EU member states.
TikTok has responded to the situation, with a spokesperson telling Reuters: “We have been in contact with Polish authorities and have removed content where it violates our rules.” However, Polish officials argue the platform’s response was too slow and reactive rather than preventive.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of increasing tensions between the EU and Russia, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent information warfare efforts across Europe. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and has been one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, has frequently been targeted by Russian disinformation campaigns.
European security experts have noted a sharp increase in synthetic media—including deepfakes and AI-generated content—being deployed in influence operations across the continent. The sophistication of these techniques has raised alarms among cybersecurity professionals and government officials alike.
The timing of these videos is particularly concerning as Europe approaches significant parliamentary elections in June. Disinformation campaigns targeting EU cohesion could potentially influence voting patterns and fuel euroskeptic sentiments.
Poland’s governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has maintained a strongly pro-EU stance since taking office in December 2023, marking a shift from the previous government’s occasional tensions with Brussels. This makes attempts to stir anti-EU sentiment particularly sensitive for Warsaw’s current leadership.
If the European Commission decides to act on Poland’s request, it would mark one of the most significant applications of the Digital Services Act against a major social media platform regarding AI-generated disinformation. The case could establish important precedents for how platforms must handle synthetic content that targets democratic institutions.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has faced increasing scrutiny across Europe and North America regarding content moderation, data privacy, and potential influence from foreign governments. This latest incident will likely intensify calls for stricter regulation of social media platforms, particularly regarding their responsibility to prevent the spread of sophisticated disinformation.
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9 Comments
Detecting and removing AI-generated political propaganda on social media platforms is an ongoing challenge. The EU needs to take a strong stance and ensure that major VLOPs like TikTok comply with digital regulations to combat foreign disinformation campaigns.
As someone who follows issues related to mining, commodities, and energy, I’m interested to see if this TikTok investigation uncovers any links between the suspected Russian disinformation and related industries. Transparency and fact-finding are crucial in these matters.
While the threat of foreign interference in domestic politics via social media is real, I hope the EU’s investigation into this TikTok content is thorough and impartial. It’s crucial that the facts are established before jumping to conclusions.
That’s a fair point. A measured, evidence-based approach is essential when dealing with complex issues of online disinformation and potential foreign influence.
I’m curious to see what the EU investigation uncovers about the suspected Russian origins of this TikTok content. It’s alarming how AI can be used to create such convincing yet false narratives that could undermine democratic processes.
Agreed. The potential for malicious actors to leverage AI to spread disinformation is a major concern that needs to be addressed urgently.
AI-generated content posing as real people to sow political division is a serious threat. I’m glad Poland is pushing for an EU-wide investigation into this. Platforms like TikTok need to be held accountable for the spread of this kind of harmful misinformation.
This is a concerning development. It’s critical that the EU investigates these suspected Russian-backed disinformation campaigns on TikTok. The integrity of democratic processes must be protected from foreign interference.
The integrity of democratic processes is paramount. I commend Poland for pushing the EU to investigate this concerning situation around AI-generated political content on TikTok. Platforms must be held accountable for enabling the spread of disinformation.