Research centre warns of interference in Polish presidential election
The Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK) has issued a warning regarding potential interference to the ongoing presidential campaign in Poland and has reported this attempt to the Internal Security Agency (ABW).
"NASK's Disinformation Analysis Centre has identified political ads on the Facebook platform, which may have been financed from abroad. The materials were displayed within Polish territory," NASK wrote on the X platform on Wednesday.
It reported that certain accounts displaying campaign ads had spent more on political content in the past week than any registered election committee and appeared to support one candidate while discrediting others.
According to NASK, political ads published on those accounts concerned mainly the top three presidential candidates: Rafal Trzaskowski from the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the socially conservative Law and Justice (PiS), and Slawomir Mentzen from the far-right Confederation.
NASK's press team told PAP that the ABW had been notified about possible interference with Poland's electoral process last week and that Meta, the owner of Facebook, has been requested to deactivate the accounts in question.
"As of yet, META has not responded to our requests. NASK is acting towards suspension of those accounts as soon as possible due to breaches of the election law," the team said.
Asked about the incident during the Impact'25 congress, an international event devoted to global challenges, held in the Polish western city of Poznan on Wednesday, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the Ministry of Digital Affairs was urgently working on clarifying the matter.
He also asked Poles to be vigilant and verify sources of information. "Let's not get manipulated with fake news the Russian Federation has been spreading for years," he said.
Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski told a press conference on Wednesday that the government had implemented systemic safeguards against cyber attacks targeting Polish election authorities.
He said that "cyber attacks may occur and likely are taking place." "But we have a strong national cyber shield... We have done everything to secure the election," he said.
Poland's presidential ballot is scheduled for May 18, with a potential runoff on June 1 if no candidate secures an outright majority in the first round. (PAP)
wpb/jch/ grg/
