Defamation and Online Harassment Laws in Poland

Polish defamation law is written law. The Civil Code lists honour and image among protected personal interests (Article 23) and lets a person whose interests are threatened or infringed demand that the conduct stop, that its effects be removed (for example through a statement of suitable content) and that money be paid (Articles 24 and 448); these rules also apply to companies and other legal persons (Article 43). The Criminal Code covers defamation (Article 212) and insult (Article 216), and the Press Law adds rules on corrections and on the liability of authors, editors and publishers.

Sources1Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny) Arts. 23, 24, 43 and 448, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 795 (Polish)2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Arts. 212 and 216, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)3Press Law (Prawo prasowe) Arts. 31a-33 and 38, consolidated text Dz.U. 2018 poz. 1914 (Polish)

Defamation is a crime in Poland. Article 212 punishes accusing a person, group, institution or company of conduct or qualities that could lower them in public opinion or cost them the trust needed for their position, profession or business, with a fine or restriction of liberty, or up to one year in prison if done through mass media; insult under Article 216 carries the same range of penalties. Both are prosecuted privately, meaning the victim rather than a public prosecutor normally brings the case. On conviction, the court may order the offender to pay a sum to the victim or a social cause (Article 212 § 3) and, if the victim asks, must order the judgment to be made public (Article 215).

Source2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Arts. 212, 215 and 216, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)

Polish law does not set separate deadlines for libel and slander, and the Civil Code has no deadline written specifically for defamation. The general rule for claims to repair damage caused by a wrongful act is three years from the day the injured person learned, or with due care could have learned, of the damage and of who must repair it, but no more than 10 years after the event (20 years from the offense if the damage resulted from a crime). For a private criminal case under Article 212 or 216, liability ends one year after the victim learned who the offender is, and no later than three years after the act.

Sources1Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny) Art. 442[1], consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 795 (Polish)2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Art. 101 § 2, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)

Poland does not use the common-law idea of defamation per se. Article 212 of the Criminal Code covers accusations that may lower someone in public opinion or cost them professional trust, so its wording does not require proof that harm actually happened. Under Article 24 of the Civil Code, a person can act as soon as a personal interest is threatened, and the claim fails if the conduct was not unlawful.

Sources2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Art. 212 § 1, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)1Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny) Art. 24 § 1, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 795 (Polish)

Poland adopted an act implementing EU Directive 2024/1069, in force since 8 July 2026 and applying to civil cases started from that date. In civil cases aimed wholly or mainly at suppressing public debate, courts can order the claimant to post security for costs, dismiss clearly unfounded claims early (aiming for a decision within three months), fine the claimant up to 20 times the minimum wage (100 times in especially justified cases) and award the defendant full legal representation costs unless they are excessive. The act governs civil proceedings only, so it does not cover private criminal defamation cases.

Sources4Act of 29 May 2026 on special protection measures in civil proceedings for people taking part in public debate, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 830 (Polish)5Sejm legal acts database, entry for Dz.U. 2026 poz. 830 (entry into force 8 July 2026)

Under the Press Law, a person or organization affected by inaccurate or untrue information in press material can ask the editor-in-chief of the daily or periodical to publish, free of charge, a factual correction. The request must be sent in writing within 21 days of publication, and the editor must publish it within three working days in the online edition where the material appeared, or in the next issue being prepared for print (no later than seven days for a daily). If the editor refuses or does not publish it properly, the person can sue for publication, but that claim expires one year after the original material was published. The editor must refuse a correction that is not factual, is late or unsigned, or contains punishable content.

Source3Press Law (Prawo prasowe) Arts. 31a, 32, 33 and 39, consolidated text Dz.U. 2018 poz. 1914 (Polish)

Truth is a defense only in limited forms. A true accusation made in private is not defamation under Article 212 § 1, and a true accusation made in public is protected only if it concerns the conduct of a person performing a public function or serves a socially justified interest; if it concerns private or family life, truth may be proved only when the accusation aims to prevent danger to someone's life or health or the demoralization of a minor (Article 213). Even a true claim can still be punished as insult because of the way it was expressed (Article 214). The Press Law protects truthful, accurate reports of public sessions of Parliament and local councils, fair negative reviews of creative, professional or public activity, and satire and caricature (Article 41).

Sources2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Arts. 213 and 214, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)3Press Law (Prawo prasowe) Art. 41, consolidated text Dz.U. 2018 poz. 1914 (Polish)

Article 190a § 1 of the Criminal Code makes persistent harassment a crime when it causes a justified sense of threat, humiliation or distress, or seriously invades the victim's privacy, punishable by six months to eight years in prison. If the victim attempts suicide as a result, the penalty is two to fifteen years. Prosecution starts on the victim's request.

Source2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Art. 190a §§ 1, 3 and 4, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)

Article 190a § 2 punishes impersonating another person by using their image or other personal data in a way that causes them financial or personal harm, with the same penalty as stalking. Insult through mass media carries a fine, restriction of liberty or up to one year in prison (Article 216 § 2), and threatening to commit a crime against someone carries up to three years if the threat causes a justified fear that it will be carried out (Article 190).

Source2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Arts. 190, 190a § 2 and 216 § 2, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)

Publishing or otherwise using someone's personal data without a legal basis can be a crime under Article 107 of the Personal Data Protection Act, punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty or up to two years in prison, or up to three years for sensitive data such as health, sexuality or sexual orientation. Using someone's image or other personal data to impersonate them and cause them harm is covered by Article 190a § 2 of the Criminal Code.

Sources6Personal Data Protection Act of 10 May 2018 Art. 107, consolidated text Dz.U. 2019 poz. 1781 (Polish)2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Art. 190a § 2, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)

Article 191a of the Criminal Code punishes spreading an image of a naked person or a person during sexual activity without their consent, and recording such an image through force, unlawful threat or deceit, with three months to five years in prison. Prosecution starts on the victim's request. A person's image is also a protected personal interest under Article 23 of the Civil Code, which supports civil claims for removal and compensation.

Sources2Criminal Code (Kodeks karny) Art. 191a, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342 (Polish)1Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny) Arts. 23, 24 and 448, consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 795 (Polish)