Poland urges internet firms to act on violent content after school stabbings
Poland summoned Google, Meta, TikTok, Discord and Telegram, urging them to curb violent content after school stabbings and online threats. The government said companies took no action in two-thirds of 89 cases of illegal content it flagged between October 7 and October 12.
1. Poland flags violent content
Poland summoned representatives of Google, Meta, TikTok, Discord and Telegram to the Digital Affairs Ministry, demanding more action against violent content after a series of school stabbings and online threats. Elon Musk’s X was invited but did not attend, Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said.
2. Most flagged cases unanswered
Poland said it flagged 89 cases of illegal content related to the attacks between October 7 and October 12, and that companies failed to act in two-thirds of them. TikTok said it had taken action on all requests it received from Poland regarding recent content.
3. Legislation being accelerated
The government is fast-tracking legislation intended to make it easier and quicker to remove damaging content. The attacks included a Saturday stabbing in Warsaw that injured three people, an October 8 attack that killed a school caretaker and wounded two teachers, and an attack in Ostroleka that injured 10 people, including the assailant.
