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Ahead of Poland’s presidential elections in May, the country’s government unveiled the ‘Election Umbrella’ program – with the goal of protecting the nation’s cybersecurity from Russian influence.
The Polish government announced a new program to protect national cybersecurity ahead of presidential elections in May. The “Election Umbrella” program was unveiled by the country’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski. It hopes to combat disinformation, model the process of financing the election campaign and train election committees. Speaking to Euronews, Gawkowski said Poland is one of the countries most exposed to cybercrime. He reports that Polish services close over 200 Internet domains with harmful content each day. Government information claims Poles are recruited online and offered between three and four thousands euros to cooperate with Russian services ahead of the election. “I warn anyone who would like to take advantage of easy, quick money in order to cooperate with Russian srvices to influence Polish elections, because it will end in prison,” he said. However, Polish opposition party Law and Justice considers the ruling coalition’s program to be a pre-election attempt at internet censorship. “Something like this is not called an ‘electoral umbrella,’ but simply an attack on democracy in Poland,” said Law and Justice MP Przemyslaw Czarnek. “Let us take care that the elections are free, fair and not disrupted by anyone. However, let’s do it with the means that are adequate for this.” The Law and Justice party will officially present its own proposal and digital platform next Thursday. The first round of presidential elections in Poland will take place on May 18.
