International media freedom groups warned the law posed a serious threat to media pluralism.
2021 was a pivotal year for media freedom in Poland , as the government continued its multi-pronged efforts to weaken critical and independent media. The MapMF re‐corded 24 violations of media freedom , including 42 attacked persons or entities related to the media. The major flashpoint was the effort by the Law and Justice (PiS) party to pass a controversial media ownership law that would have forced the sale of U.S owned TVN, the country’s largest broadcaster and a long critic of the ruling party. The bill was eventually vetoed by President Duda following inter‐ national condemnation and high-level U.S pressure, puncturing PiS’ legislative plans. However, new SLAPP lawsuits and seri‐ ous criminal sanctions and a media black‐ out caused by a government-imposed state of emergency at the Belarusian bor‐ der posed serious challenges. Systematic legal harassment of independent media in Poland continued in 2021, as PiS officials and their allies continued efforts to bury criti...