TikTok has removed several videos posted by controversial Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun, citing violations of its hate speech policy. The move follows formal complaints by civil society groups and comes amid growing scrutiny of Braun’s public behaviour, legal exposure, and political influence inside Poland.
While Braun’s TikTok account, which has around 250,000 followers, remains active, six videos have disappeared, including some of his most provocative actions.
From the Sejm to Auschwitz Denial
Among the deleted videos were recordings of Braun extinguishing a Hanukkah menorah inside the Sejm, an act widely condemned across Poland’s political spectrum, Polish media reported.
Also removed were clips in which Braun questioned the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, statements that fall squarely under Holocaust denial.
The Never Again Association, which monitors hate speech and extremism, confirmed it had filed complaints with TikTok moderators regarding Braun’s content. According to the group, the videos promoted antisemitism and historical falsification, both prohibited under the platform’s rules.
TikTok later confirmed that several videos had been made unavailable due to breaches of its hate speech policy, though it did not specify whether additional sanctions could follow.
Immunity Lifted, Court Case Underway
The platform’s intervention coincides with mounting legal trouble for Braun. Polish prosecutors have launched court proceedings related to a series of his actions, and members of the European Parliament have agreed to lift his parliamentary immunity, clearing the way for prosecution.
This convergence of legal pressure and platform moderation marks a turning point. For years, Braun operated at the edge of acceptability, using shock tactics to expand his audience. That strategy is now colliding with institutional limits, both offline and online.
A Party on the Rise, Despite the Scandals
Perhaps the most troubling aspect for many observers is timing. In December, Braun’s party, known for its pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian, and antisemitic rhetoric, became the third most popular political force in Poland for the first time.
That rise has been fuelled in part by social media reach. Short-form video platforms like TikTok reward provocation, emotional intensity, and confrontation. Braun’s content fits that logic perfectly, transforming scandal into visibility and outrage into engagement.
The removal of several videos therefore raises a broader question. Is platform moderation reacting too late, after narratives and audiences have already been built?
Where Free Speech Ends and Policy Begins
TikTok’s decision illustrates the increasingly narrow line between political expression and prohibited hate speech. Holocaust denial and antisemitic acts are not treated as opinion under European norms but as harmful disinformation with real-world consequences.
At the same time, the platform has stopped short of suspending Braun’s account entirely. His profile remains accessible, his follower base intact, and his ability to publish new material unchanged, at least for now.
This halfway response reflects a wider tension. Platforms want to demonstrate responsibility without appearing to intervene directly in democratic politics. Whether that balance is sustainable is an open question.
A Signal, Not a Solution
The deletion of Braun’s videos sends a signal, but it does not dismantle the ecosystem that allowed them to spread in the first place. Political radicalisation rarely hinges on a single clip. It grows through repetition, algorithmic amplification, and the gradual erosion of social taboos.
For Polish institutions, European lawmakers, and technology companies alike, the Braun case has become a stress test. It asks how resilient democratic systems really are when extremism is popular, monetised, and constantly rebranded as dissent.