In recent weeks, the debate on disinformation, media manipulation and hate speech has intensified in Poland and Europe. The media are increasingly being criticized for their impact on the lives of people and societies. Business organizations have appealed to the Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, to take decisive action in the fight against false information spreading in the public sphere.
A social initiative has also been taken by businessman and philanthropist Robert Szustkowski. He proposes extending the EU directive on the “Right to be Forgotten” to the media, recognizing them as data controllers.
Robert Szustkowski’s proposals
The aim of the initiative is to protect citizens on a broad scale from disinformation by enabling more effective defense of the personal rights of people affected by defamatory press information. Szustkowski, who himself struggles with false media accusations, emphasizes the need for systemic changes in the protection of privacy and individual rights in the media.
The need to remove false information
The businessman proposes that the media should be obliged to remove false information at the request of the data subjects and to be more diligent when publishing materials. Introducing simple procedures for reporting violations of rights could improve reputation protection.
The key role of the “Right to be forgotten” in protecting civil rights
Szustkowski believes that extending the “Right to be forgotten” to the media is crucial for protecting civil rights in Europe, especially in the age of digitalization, where access to information is quick and widespread. He emphasizes that the evolving world of the global network somehow forces the updating of legal regulations in order to protect citizens.
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