Poland Demands 1 Billion Zloty Fine for Meta, Minister Intervenes in Brussels

Poland is demanding a substantial penalty of 250 million euros, approximately 1 billion zloty, from Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The move comes after the company allegedly ignored a significant majority of reports concerning fraudulent content.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has officially petitioned the European Commission to impose this fine. The request is based on Article 66 of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). Gawkowski is urging the Commission to expand its ongoing investigation into Meta for violating articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, which relate to managing systemic risk.

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Digital platforms must bear full responsibility for their actions and therefore I have requested that Meta be fined 250 million euros.

This decisive action follows Meta's unsatisfactory explanations regarding its content moderation mechanisms. Data from CERT Polska, a unit within NASK, revealed that out of 122 reported fraudulent advertisements, Meta failed to act on 106 of them, a staggering 86.8% dismissal rate. Only a small fraction were removed or addressed.

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Inaction and ineffectiveness in combating harmful advertisements and fraudulent content for Poles will not be tolerated. I expect the European Commission to quickly conduct proceedings and impose a penalty. There is more than enough evidence.

Gawkowski expressed Poland's intolerance for such inaction, stating, "Digital platforms must bear full responsibility for their actions." He called for swift action from the European Commission and demanded that Meta immediately implement effective tools to eliminate scams, fake advertisements, and the promotion of illegal applications. "This wild west on the platform must end," he warned.

The Polish government's stance aligns with broader European concerns about the tech giant's performance. A report by the European consumer organization BEUC from May 2026 indicated similar findings across 13 countries, suggesting a systemic issue with Meta's moderation practices.

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I additionally call on Meta to immediately introduce effective tools to eliminate scams, fake ads, and the promotion of illegal applications. This wild west on the platform must end.