Poland urges Brussels probe TikTok over AI-generated ‘EU exit’ content
TikTok removes content as Warsaw suspects Russia is behind synthetic videos calling for Poland’s exit from the EU
Poland has asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok after the social media platform hosted artificial intelligence-generated content including calls for Poland to withdraw from the EU, it said on Tuesday, adding that the content was almost certainly Russian disinformation.
A TikTok profile showing videos of young women dressed in Polish national colours and calling for Poland to leave the EU has gained popularity in recent weeks. The profile has now disappeared from the platform.
“The disclosed content poses a threat to public order, information security, and the integrity of democratic processes in Poland and across the European Union,” Deputy Digitalisation Minister Dariusz Standerski said in a letter sent to the Commission.
“The nature of the narratives, the manner in which they are distributed, and the use of synthetic audiovisual materials indicate that the platform is failing to comply with the obligations imposed on it as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP),” he added.
A Polish government spokesperson said on Tuesday the content was undoubtedly Russian disinformation as the recordings contained Russian syntax.
“We have been in contact with Polish authorities and have removed content where it violates our rules,” a TikTok spokesperson told Reuters in an e-mailed comment. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, adding that under the Digital Services Act, very large online platforms have to assess all the risks stemming from their services, including those related to artificial intelligence.