President of UKE Appointed Coordinator for Digital Services. From Radio Waves to Digital Security
30 October 2026
For years, the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has been associated with communications, frequencies, telecommunications networks, and the protection of users of electronic communications services. Now, the scope of the UKE President’s responsibilities will expand to include another area—digital services. On September 25, 2026, the President of Poland signed a law designating the UKE President as the Coordinator for Digital Services in Poland. The law will take effect on November 6, 2026, and will establish a national system for carrying out the obligations arising from the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The new regulations are primarily intended to ensure the effective enforcement of digital service providers’ obligations and the protection of their users’ rights.
From Communications to Digital Services
Today, the Internet is a place where we communicate, shop, enjoy entertainment, and gather information. That is why, even in the digital world, we need clear rules defining users’ rights and service providers’ obligations.
These rules are established by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which has been in effect throughout the European Union since February 17, 2024. It covers various types of intermediary services—from data transmission and hosting services to online platforms, social media sites, e-commerce platforms, and search engines.
The Polish law does not create these rights from scratch. Instead, it establishes the national system necessary for the effective implementation and enforcement of the DSA.
The President of UKE will play a central role in this system as the Coordinator for Digital Services. In areas specified by law, tasks will also be carried out by the President of Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the Chair of The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).
What will be the role of the President of UKE?
The new responsibilities of the UKE President will not involve evaluating users’ views or deciding what content may appear on the internet.
The regulator’s role will primarily be to enforce the obligations that the DSA imposes on intermediary service providers and to ensure the proper functioning of the mechanisms provided for in the regulation.
– We will not judge users’ views or take the place of platforms in making moderation decisions. Our job is to enforce the rules. The DSA defines the obligations of digital service providers and grants users specific rights. The role of the UKE President will be to ensure compliance with these rules within the scope of his authority and to cooperate with authorities in Poland and other European Union countries - notes Ewelina Żak, Director of the Department of Digital Services and Consumersat UKE.
The President of UKE will be able, among other things, to request information and explanations, conduct proceedings and inspections, and, if violations are found, to take the measures provided for by law, including imposing administrative fines.
Users gain specific rights
The DSA strengthens the user's position in their relationship with the platform.
If a platform, for example, removes content, restricts its visibility, suspends an account, or restricts access to the service due to the content being illegal or in violation of the terms of service, it must provide the user with a clear and specific explanation for its decision in the cases specified in the DSA.
Users of online platforms may also utilize the platform’s internal complaint-handling system, and the DSA also provides for the option of using certified alternative dispute resolution bodies.
Once the Polish law enters into force, users will also be able to file a complaint with the Digital Services Coordinator regarding a violation of the DSA.
– From the user’s perspective, the most important thing is that the rights enshrined in the DSA are backed by an enforcement system. If a user believes that a provider is not complying with its obligations under the DSA, they will be able to contact the President of UKE in their capacity as the Digital Services Coordinator - explains Ewelina Żak from UKE.
This does not mean that the President of UKE will become an appellate body for every decision made by the platform. The Coordinator’s task will be to examine whether the provider is complying with its obligations under the DSA and, if a violation is found, to take the actions provided for by law.
A Polish user in the European system
Digital services do not stop at national borders. That is why the DSA establishes a European system of regulatory cooperation.
The rules set forth in the DSA determine which authority has jurisdiction over a specific provider. In many cases, the country where the provider has its principal place of business within the European Union is the determining factor.
However, coordinators from individual countries cooperate with one another and exchange information. The President of UKE will also cooperate with the European Digital Services Board and the European Commission.
In the case of the largest services—very large online platforms and very large search engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs)—the European Commission has specific direct supervisory powers.
Not Just Complaints
The UKE President’s new responsibilities will extend beyond handling complaints regarding potential violations of the DSA.
The coordinator will carry out tasks related, among other things, to granting the status of a trusted signaling entity, certifying alternative dispute resolution bodies, and procedures concerning verified researchers.
A National Council for Digital Services will also be established under the President of UKE—an advisory body supporting efforts to create a secure, predictable, and trustworthy digital environment.
This is the first phase of the changes
The law signed by the President lays the groundwork for the national system for enforcing the DSA. At the same time, the second phase of legislative work is underway.
On October 8, 2026, the Sejm passed another act concerning, among other things, national procedures for issuing orders related to illegal content. On October 13, the Senate also passed the act, and on October 22, the Sejm approved most of the Senate’s amendments. On October 23, the act was sent to the President of the Republic of Poland for his signature.
The provisions are intended to specify, among other things, who will be able to apply for an order, which authorities will have jurisdiction, and how judicial review will be ensured.
From Radio Waves to Digital Security
Technology is changing, but the basic idea remains the same: users should know their rights, providers should know their obligations, and the government should have effective mechanisms for enforcing the law.
Starting November 6, the President of UKE, in his capacity as Coordinator for Digital Services, will become the central figure in this system in Poland.
– Above all, we want users to know what their rights are, what they can do if they encounter a problem with the platform, and where they can seek help. The DSA is a very comprehensive and technical regulation, but from a citizen’s perspective, its significance is clear: digital service providers do not operate outside the law, and users should not be left without information or available means of recourse - emphasizes Ewelina Żak from UKE.
The entry into force of Poland’s first law on November 6, 2026, will mark an important milestone in the development of the national DSA implementation system. The President of UKE will serve as its central figure in the role of Digital Services Coordinator, operating in Poland and collaborating with authorities in other Member States, the European Digital Services Board, and the European Commission.
You can read more about the DSA on the website https://uke.gov.pl/uslugi-cyfrowe