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

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. These 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 criticized 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 or restriction of liberty), criminal threats (up to three years' imprisonment), or incitement to commit an offense (a fine, restriction of liberty, or 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 on right-wing broadcaster Telewizja 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 criticized 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.

Main image credit: Slawomir Kaminski / Electoral Agency