The head of the Ministry of National Defense also supported a ban on access to social media for people under 16 years of age. At the Friday conference in Żagań, the head of the Ministry of National Defense was asked about the government's reaction to the recent dramatic events in several schools in Masovia, where in recent days, as a result of attacks by young people, several people were injured and one of the attacked died.
Head of the Ministry of National Defense: It was a serious disinformation campaign
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that services subordinate to the Ministry of National Defense are also involved in the activities undertaken. He noted that on Friday morning he received a report from the commander of the Cyberspace Defense Component about the involvement of cyber troops in monitoring the network and fighting fake news. Because yesterday evening was also a serious disinformation campaign, which was certainly intended to cause panic. This is in some scenario and it is now also confirmed by the Military Counterintelligence Service and other special services, civil services, and especially the police - said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Russian thread
He stressed that the thread that must be considered is the Russian thread.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that even if the first stage, i.e. the tragedy in both schools, was not directly related to it, "the use of such situations is certainly always part of the strategy and philosophy of operation of the Russian Federation." (The Russians) see a certain crisis event and immediately take advantage of it, emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
As an example, he gave that Russian propaganda was launched during the flood and disinformation was spread, for example that hundreds of people were victims of the flood. And you can see that they were also active yesterday. This first information that I have from the commander of cyber troops also indicates that our adversaries from the East are active and willing to take advantage of this type of event - said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
He emphasized that it is important to continue and strengthen the education program with the army.
For example, preparing kids, students and teachers to be as resilient as possible. Here we cooperate with the Ministry of National Education, we will continue to support these activities - said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
He also assured that the activities of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the police and network monitoring will also be further supported.
Kosiniak-Kamysz: I am in favor of introducing restrictions on access to social media
Noting that he was speaking as the head of PSL, Kosiniak-Kamysz also said that he was in favor of introducing age restrictions when using social media. He emphasized that he supported a ban on the use of social media, not only restrictions on access to phones.
I believe it is urgent to implement a law restricting the use of social media. I have been abroad (defined) for the age of 16. These restrictions should be introduced until the age of 16, said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
He emphasized that "what is happening on the Internet, how the psyche of young people is being destroyed by hate, hate, lack of likes, because it often comes down to this, is terrible and must be counteracted." The Ministry of National Education announced that on Friday and Monday in all voivodeships there will be meetings of education superintendents with directors of schools and kindergartens regarding safety in institutions.
Closed on Friday include: all public and private primary schools, as well as kindergartens in the Wyszków commune. Only student care was provided in schools. On Thursday, a 15-year-old primary school graduate in Leszczydole-Nowiny (Wyszków commune) attacked three people. As a result of the attack, a 37-year-old janitor died and two people were injured.
On Wednesday, at the Vocational School Complex No. 4 in Ostrołęka, a 19-year-old attacked nine people with a knife - five students, two teachers and two bystanders. The attacker also had home-made explosives in his backpack. Also on Wednesday, in Sierpc, the police detained a 17-year-old boy who allegedly told his friends that he was planning to "do something bad at school."
