Energy under attack. Disinformation threatens Poland’s power transition

illustration: DALL-E

Disinformation in Poland’s energy sector is becoming a serious challenge. It’s no longer just a media issue - it’s a threat to national security, public trust, and long-term investment. According to a report from the Institute of Media Monitoring (IMM), the volume of publications discussing disinformation in energy doubled in 2025 compared to the year before. The scale and impact of these false narratives are growing fast.

As Joanna Rafał from IMM points out, "Disinformation undermines Poland’s energy security and delays investments". Her analysis shows that public opinion can shift quickly when emotional and misleading content spreads. This, in turn, affects policy-making and investor confidence. People start questioning expert advice, doubt the benefits of renewable energy, and resist changes that are vital for Poland’s future.


How media in Poland react? IMM tracked nearly 70,000 unique publications warning and condemning disinformation between 2022 and 2025. These stories reached more than one billion views and impressions. That means the average internet user in Poland may have come across disinformation warrning about energy at least 37 times in one year.

year	number of publications
2025	27,498
2024	13,596
2023	11,479
2022	17,297

But much of false content spreads on social media. Platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) are the main arenas. Many messages repeat similar false claims and often come from political or ideological groups, including anti-EU and far-right networks. Some messages even originate from official-sounding sources, making them more dangerous.

The most targeted issue is nuclear energy. According to a joint report from NASK and the Polish National Security Institute, this topic attracts conspiracy theories, fear-based messaging, and unscientific arguments. Russian propaganda has played a central role. In just the first quarter of 2024, sources tied to Russia generated over 34 million online posts aimed at weakening public trust in climate policies and clean energy investments.

The EY cybersecurity report adds another layer of concern. In 2023, the number of cyberattacks on the energy sector doubled year-over-year. These included phishing scams where criminals pretended to be energy companies like PGE or Tauron. Victims received fake emails about refunds or overpayments and unknowingly shared sensitive information. These scams led to direct financial losses for individuals.


In response, the government and industry organizations have launched counter-campaigns. The Ministry of Energy’s initiative, "Don’t Get Fooled - Check the Facts", helps the public understand common energy myths. The Polish Society of District Heating Engineers also runs a campaign called "Energy for Real", focusing on science-based information.

Still, as Joanna Rafał emphasizes, more must be done. "Only facts - not emotions - can build trust in times of change", she says. This means constant monitoring, responsible journalism, and strong public awareness campaigns.

If disinformation continues unchecked, Poland may struggle to reach its energy goals and protect its citizens from manipulation and fraud.