According to Reuters, on Tuesday, December 30, Poland’s Deputy Digitalization Minister Dariusz Standerski formally asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok. The request follows the platform hosting AI-generated videos, now removed, featuring young women in Polish national colors calling for the country to leave the EU. Polish officials state the content, which contained Russian syntax, is “undoubtedly” Russian disinformation and a threat to public order and democratic processes. This action cites suspected breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which can lead to fines of up to 6% of a platform’s global annual turnover. The Commission had already opened formal proceedings against TikTok last year over election interference concerns related to Romania’s November 2024 presidential vote.
Poland’s Big Accusation
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a simple complaint about some sketchy posts. Poland is making a very specific, legally-loaded accusation. They’re saying TikTok, as a designated Very Large Online Platform (VLOP), is failing its core DSA obligations to mitigate systemic risks—like foreign disinformation campaigns that threaten “the integrity of democratic processes.” They’re connecting the dots between the AI-generated avatars, the “Polexit” narrative, and Russian syntax to paint a picture of a coordinated attack that TikTok’s systems should have caught. It’s a direct challenge to the platform’s content moderation and threat detection capabilities right before a major election cycle in Europe.
The Broader EU Crackdown
This move by Poland isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s the latest chess move in the EU’s escalating standoff with Big Tech, using the DSA as its new, powerful rulebook. The Commission already has TikTok in its sights from the Romania probe. Now, with Poland raising the alarm, it adds pressure and another data point. The EU is basically in full enforcement mode, warning about Russian interference and testing its new regulatory muscles. And the stakes are huge—that 6% of global turnover fine isn’t just a slap on the wrist; it’s a potentially existential financial threat. So, why is TikTok a repeated target? Well, its Chinese ownership by ByteDance adds an extra layer of geopolitical tension that Brussels is keenly aware of.
Why AI Changes Everything
Look, disinformation isn’t new. But the use of synthetic AI-generated content is a game-changer, and that’s the core of Poland’s complaint. It’s not just trolls typing in a basement anymore. We’re talking about convincing, audiovisual material that can bypass simpler text-based detection systems. The videos described—young women in national colors—are designed for maximum emotional resonance and shareability. This puts platforms in a brutally tough spot. How do you scale moderation to catch hyper-realistic fakes that are cheap and easy to produce? Poland’s letter is essentially a warning shot: your old tools aren’t good enough, and under the DSA, that’s your problem to fix, not ours.
What Happens Next?
All eyes are now on the European Commission. Will they fold this Polish complaint into their existing TikTok probe, or launch a separate, focused investigation? Their response will signal how aggressively they’re willing to wield the DSA in real-time against live threats. For TikTok, the calculus is getting more expensive by the day. Every new investigation drains resources, damages reputation, and brings that massive fine closer to reality. And for other VLOPs like Meta and X, this is a clear precedent. The EU is not messing around. If you can’t or won’t stop AI-powered election meddling, they’re coming for you with the full force of their new digital law. The era of polite requests is over.
