Poland to criminalise violent livestreaming with jail terms of up to 5 years

Polish lawmakers have backed new legislation aimed at tackling so-called “trash streaming”, introducing prison sentences of up to five years for broadcasting serious crimes such as murder or rape, as well as content involving animal cruelty or violence used to humiliate others.

The move forms part of a wider effort in Poland to strengthen oversight of online content. Recent steps have also included restrictions such as banning mobile phones for children under 16 in schools and tightening age verification requirements for accessing pornography.

Under the new rules, livestreaming or distributing depictions of serious offences (those carrying penalties of more than five years in prison) would itself become a separate criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in jail.

The legislation also extends to material showing cruelty to animals, degrading or humiliating violence, and the promotion of gambling. It further stipulates that staging or falsely simulating such crimes during a broadcast would be treated in the same way.

At EU level, the Digital Services Act requires platforms to remove illegal content and material that incites or depicts severe harm, while enforcement against content creators themselves remains the responsibility of individual member states.

Polish Radio has previously reported that more than one in four Polish children and teenagers watch “pathostreams”, online broadcasts of violent or degrading acts, despite years of warnings and ongoing efforts to regulate the phenomenon.

These so-called “trashstreams” involve creators livestreaming shocking or abusive behaviour, often funded directly by viewers through donations, and are widely accessible on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.

Surveys suggest the issue is widespread among minors, with significant numbers not only watching but also financially supporting such content. Researchers and watchdog groups have warned that the trend, which emerged in Poland in the late 2010s, has blurred the line between entertainment and real-world harm, sometimes involving exploitation, violence, or dangerous stunts performed for audience engagement.

Cases linked to prominent streamers have raised public concern, while similar incidents in other countries, including deaths during extreme livestreams, highlight that the problem extends beyond Poland. Despite multiple legislative attempts since 2018, a comprehensive legal framework to fully criminalise or curb “pathostreaming” is still being developed.

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