Poland:Criminal Justice Bill 2024

1.Overview

Poland introduced the bill,The Criminal Justice Bill 2024,to address the growing issues of increasing deepfake technology. The major focus of the legislation is on the distribution and production of fake content,such as deepfake use in fraud, non-consensual adult content , and defamation.

2.Scope of the law

The legislation covers a wide number of aspects of deepfake abuse,such as the dissemination,creation,and possession of non-consensual content,and utilization of deepfakes for financial scams and political propaganda.The legislation covers deepfakes of  both the distributors and creators.Exemptions are granted to some journalists,as long as they do not cause harm to others or propagate misinformation.

3.Key Provisions

• Prohibited Acts:It is considered against the law to share,create,or possess deepfakes for fraud,injuring someone,or misleading others.It also includes the utilization of deepfakes for  political exploitation or explicit content without any consent of the people.
• Consent Requirements:Clear consent from the individuals included in the deepfake material,is mandatory by the law,particularly if it is defamatory.
• Platform Responsibilities:Online service providers and social media platforms are required to block or remove when harmful content is notified with the cooperation of  law enforcement agencies to identify such content.

4.Penalties and Enforcement

Individuals who violate the law will be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of five years or a fine,depending on the offense’s severity.Poland’s law enforcement agencies such as the Cybercrime Unit have the responsibility to enforce the law and investigate and prosecute deepfake-related crimes.

5.Notable cases or precedents

The law has not been yet tested in court  now,but it can be enacted in response to the increasing use of deepfake in defamation cases and political campaigns at an individual level.

6.Comparison to Global standards

Like other European Union nations, Poland’s approach is also the same,by  EU’s wider Digital Services Act.It is not as rigid as some U.S. state legislation ,which imposes severe civil penalties and civil actions on victims.

7.Practical Implications

Deepfakes content creators should take care to obtain clear consent from anyone featured,particularly  in sensitive defamatory situations.Deepfake victims are ensured to report to the Cybercrime unit.Strong monitoring systems should be established by sites to ensure the removal and detection of harmful content.

8.Future Outlook

Poland’s law can be extended or amended to mitigate growing threats related to AI-generated content particularly possessed by deepfake technology.Additional amendments can also enhance international cooperation to address cross-border deepfakes.