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Poland urges Brussels to probe TikTok over AI-generated content

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Poland has asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok after the platform hosted artificial intelligence–generated content calling for Poland to leave the European Union, which authorities said was almost certainly Russian disinformation.

Polish officials said a TikTok profile featuring videos of young women dressed in Polish national colours and promoting an exit from the EU had gained traction in recent weeks before disappearing from the platform. Warsaw argues the content posed risks to public order, information security and democratic processes both in Poland and across the EU.

In a letter to the Commission, Deputy Digitalization Minister Dariusz Standerski said the use of synthetic audiovisual material and the way it was distributed suggested TikTok was failing to meet its obligations as a “Very Large Online Platform” under EU law. A Polish government spokesperson said the videos contained Russian linguistic patterns, pointing to a coordinated disinformation effort.

TikTok said it has been in contact with Polish authorities and removed content where it violated platform rules. A Commission spokesperson confirmed receipt of Poland’s request, noting that under the Digital Services Act (DSA), very large platforms must assess and mitigate risks linked to their services, including those arising from AI-generated content. The Commission added that it had already sought information from TikTok and other platforms in March 2024 on how they address AI-related risks.

EU governments have stepped up scrutiny of social media platforms amid concerns over foreign interference in elections and domestic politics. Last year, the Commission opened formal proceedings against TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, over its handling of election-related risks, including during Romania’s 2024 presidential vote.

Poland is now urging Brussels to open new proceedings under the DSA, which requires major platforms such as TikTok, Meta’s Facebook and X to remove harmful content. Breaches can result in fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual turnover.

Taiwan warns of surge in Chinese cyberattacks and “online troll army”

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Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has reported a 17% rise in Chinese cyberattacks targeting its government systems so far in 2025, amounting to an average of 2.8 million attacks per day. The agency warned that Beijing is deploying an “online troll army” to amplify disinformation and undermine public trust in the island’s institutions.

The NSB report, presented to parliament, described these as systemic cyberattacks focusing on key sectors such as defence, telecommunications, energy, and healthcare. Beyond espionage, the operations reportedly use the dark web, internet forums, and social media to spread fabricated content and erode public confidence in Taiwan’s cybersecurity capabilities.

Taiwan’s authorities accuse China of using “grey-zone” tactics — hybrid measures that combine military drills, cyber intrusions, and propaganda — to pressure the island into accepting Beijing’s sovereignty claims. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declined to comment, though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in hacking and instead claims it is a victim of Taiwanese cyber operations.

The report also flagged more than 10,000 suspicious social media accounts, mostly on Facebook, that collectively spread over 1.5 million pieces of disinformation. These campaigns reportedly promote pro-China narratives, attack Taiwan’s leadership, and attempt to sow distrust toward the United States, Taipei’s key ally and arms supplier.

According to the NSB, AI-generated memes and targeted digital propaganda have become central tools in China’s information warfare strategy ahead of Taiwan’s elections and trade talks with Washington.

Poland warns of surge in Russian cyberattacks on critical infrastructure

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Poland is facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks, much of it traced to Russian military intelligence, according to the country’s digital affairs minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski. He told Reuters that Russia has tripled its cyber resources directed at Poland this year, targeting sectors vital to national security.

Of the 170,000 cyber incidents recorded in the first nine months of 2025, a “significant portion” was attributed to Russian state-linked actors, while the rest involved financially motivated cybercrime. Poland now faces 2,000–4,000 attacks daily, of which 700–1,000 pose real threats to key infrastructure, Gawkowski said.

The minister noted that Russian groups are expanding their focus beyond water and sewage systems to include energy networks, and warned that the activity is becoming more coordinated and sophisticated. “Russian activity is the most severe because it targets infrastructure essential to maintaining normal life,” he said.

A major escalation occurred on September 10, when a cyberattack coincided with a Russian drone strike, marking Poland’s largest coordinated digital assault since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. False claims spread online that Ukraine had launched the drones, amplified by bot networks that had been dormant for years before suddenly reactivating.

Warsaw officials say Poland has become Russia’s top cyber target within NATO, due to its support for Kyiv and its strategic role in supplying Ukraine. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not respond to requests for comment but has consistently denied involvement in cyber operations.