In a statement released on Thursday, the agency said its analysts had identified networks of fake accounts on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, spreading content aligned with Russian propaganda narratives.
The warning comes as part of the Parasol Wyborczy (Election Umbrella) initiative, which monitors online interference in the electoral process.
According to NASK, hundreds of accounts were flagged for spreading AI-generated visual content and emotionally charged messages designed to amplify polarising issues such as migration, foreign policy, public safety, and the economy.
Some posts directly targeted one of the presidential candidates, it said.
“The same visual messages appeared on Telegram accounts previously linked to Russian disinformation operations,” the agency added.
NASK attributed a significant portion of the campaign to nearly 400 accounts operating under the banner of Russia’s Social Design Agency (Agencja Projektów Społecznych), a body involved in psychological and informational warfare.
NASK’s Disinformation Analysis Centre has already submitted over 10,000 reports this year on suspicious accounts operating in Polish and English. Some of these promoted false warnings about terror attacks allegedly planned for May 18, the day of the vote.
Analysts believe the goal is not only to sway public opinion but also to overwhelm the analytical capacity of oversight bodies with a flood of misleading content.
A parallel SMS campaign has also been detected in recent days. Nearly 100 reports have been filed about mass messages mocking a named candidate and referencing sensitive topics such as funeral benefits.
Sent from multiple numbers, the messages are believed to be part of a coordinated attempt to erode trust in democratic institutions and confuse voters.
Part of the concerted Russian effort has been directed at eroding Polish public support for Ukraine.
“This has been about discrediting Ukrainian leaders, undermining public support for Western aid to Kyiv, and fuelling social tension across Europe and the US,” said NASK, adding that the campaign has been ongoing since at least December 2023.
On Wednesday, NASK also flagged potentially foreign-funded political ads on Facebook. The case was referred to Poland’s internal security agency, ABW, and the ads were subsequently blocked.
Later that evening, Facebook’s parent company Meta said it had found no conclusive evidence of foreign interference.
NASK continues to monitor the online space around the clock, in cooperation with public institutions, security agencies and international partners.
The agency has urged citizens to report suspicious content through the bezpiecznewybory.pl platform.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, nask.pl