We need to sound the alarm—soon, perhaps right after the presidential election, we might wake up in a reality where Orwellian thoughtcrime becomes a provision in the criminal code, not just a work of fiction — warns Mateusz Morawiecki regarding the new guidelines issued by the prosecutor’s office.
The website of the National Prosecutor’s Office has published the “General Prosecutor’s Guidelines for Conducting Proceedings Related to Hate-Motivated Crimes.”
Over 17 pages, the document outlines that during investigations, authorities will be required to “thoroughly examine the perpetrator’s activity, particularly by analyzing content published by them on social media and other media platforms — including statements that have already been deleted.”
Jail Time for Memes?
Internet users have pointed out that under Adam Bodnar’s new guidelines, hate speech now also includes visual content — meaning popular memes could fall under this category. Could someone really face criminal charges or even jail time over a meme? It may sound absurd, but for all the internet jokesters who value freedom of expression, it’s no laughing matter — Mateusz Morawiecki emphasized.
In a post on platform X (formerly Twitter), he stressed the importance of speaking out loudly and consistently on this issue:
“We need to sound the alarm—soon, perhaps right after the presidential election, we might wake up in a reality where Orwellian thoughtcrime becomes a provision in the criminal code, not just a work of fiction,”
the former Prime Minister added.
Morawiecki laid out the dangers to freedom of speech and expression posed by the proposed guidelines.
— Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) April 4, 2025
Czy za memy w sieci można dostać zarzuty i trafić za kratki?
Brzmi zabawnie, ale wszystkim internetowym śmieszkom, którzy cenią sobie wolność wypowiedzi, nie powinno być do śmiechu.
Czy słyszeliście o nowych wytycznych Prokuratora Generalnego, Ministra “Sprawiedliwości”… pic.twitter.com/ul3Xi98XFj