Poland has asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok after the platform hosted AI-generated content urging Poland to leave the EU. Officials said the content was almost certainly Russian disinformation.
Viral Content and Disinformation
A TikTok profile showing videos of young women in Polish national colors calling for the country to exit the EU gained popularity in recent weeks. The profile has since been removed.
Deputy Digitalization Minister Dariusz Standerski said in a letter to the Commission, “The content threatens public order, information security, and democratic integrity in Poland and across the EU.”
He added that the use of synthetic audiovisual material indicated TikTok failed to meet obligations as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP).
A Polish government spokesperson said the videos contained Russian syntax, confirming they were likely Russian disinformation.
EU Action Against Foreign Influence
TikTok, the European Commission, and the Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
EU countries have been increasing measures to prevent foreign interference in elections and local politics. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in such actions.
Last year, the European Commission launched proceedings against TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, over its alleged failure to prevent election interference during Romania’s 2024 presidential vote.
Digital Services Act Enforcement
Poland asked the Commission to investigate TikTok for potential breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act. The law requires large platforms like TikTok, X, and Facebook to remove harmful content, including hate speech, racism, and xenophobia.
If platforms fail to comply, the Commission can impose fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.
