Polish prosecutors open investigations into online insults targeting president-elect’s daughter

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Polish prosecutors have opened six separate investigations into online insults targeting the seven‑year‑old daughter of President‑elect Karol Nawrocki, following a surge of abusive posts on social media.

Each investigation concerns a different social media platform, said Piotr Antoni Skiba, spokesman for the Mokotów district prosecutor’s office in Warsaw, which is leading the inquiries. Those platforms are Facebook, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Polish forum Onet.

“The scale is enormous. We received almost 200 reports from the human rights and children’s rights commissioners alone,” Skiba told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Additional reports were lodged by private individuals and the girl’s mother.

The abuse began after Nawrocki’s daughter Kasia appeared on election night, blowing kisses, making heart gestures, and dancing enthusiastically before her father’s supporters. While some internet users applauded her, others criticised her energy, manners and even her weight.

Prosecutors are examining whether the posts constitute the crimes of public insult (punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment), criminal threats (up to three years’ imprisonment), or incitement to commit an offence (up to one year in prison).

“Some [posts] do not fulfil these [criminal] acts, others are under ongoing review,” Skiba said, adding that new reports are being submitted “all the time”.

In the days after the election, Nawrocki defended his daughter during an interview with broadcaster Republika. “I am proud that I have such an open, wonderful, beloved daughter Kasia,” he said. “This is a child – this should not happen. But we overcome evil with good.”

His wife, future First Lady Marta Nawrocka, added: “Every child deserves to grow up in a world full of love and acceptance.”

Other commentators, psychologists and institutions including the human rights and children’s rights commissioners have also criticised the wave of abuse.

“I don’t agree with violence against children! I don’t agree with hate speech! Every child deserves respect! No child should be attacked! No child should be insulted,” said Monika Horna-Cieślak, the children’s rights commissioner, on Facebook.

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: Slawomir Kaminski / Agencja Wyborcza

Alicja Ptak

Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.