TikTok Election Interference Allegations Spark ABW Investigation in Poland

Poland's ABW investigates alleged TikTok election manipulation. A report filed by Polish MP Roman Giertych alleges that TikTok, a Chinese-owned platform, disproportionately promoted right-wing content during the election campaign. This claim is supported by a Global Witness report that found TikTok's algorithm favored content supporting right-wing candidate Karol Nawrocki over his opponent, Rafał Trzaskowski. The report's methodology involved creating new, clean accounts to analyze the platform's recommendation system. The results showed a significant bias: 21 posts supported Nawrocki, while 5 were against him; 4 posts supported Trzaskowski, and 18 were against him. A concerning 67% of the content was deemed far-right or nationalist. Giertych also requested an investigation into an app used by PiS MP Dariusz Matecki to verify election certificates, expressing concerns about its potential for illegal activity. ABW head Rafał Syrysko confirmed that the agency is actively investigating various attempts at election interference, including foreign interference. Giertych is urging citizens to report any irregularities and hasn't ruled out an election protest to the Supreme Court. This situation raises serious questions about the transparency and digital security of elections in Poland, highlighting the challenges of maintaining information sovereignty in the digital age. "We know that this application verified election certificates illegally," stated Giertych, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.