Poland’s emergency alert system has come under fire for sending confusing messages that fail to tell recipients what they should actually do when danger threatens, according to Spider’s Web – technologie.
The Rządowe Centrum Bezpieczeństwa (RCB), Poland’s Government Centre for Security, has been criticised by residents in the eastern voivodeships of Lublin and Podkarpacie, who complain that alerts arrive multiple times a day. The frequency has led many people to stop paying attention altogether.
Beyond sheer volume, the content of the warnings has drawn particular scrutiny. Ewa Lefik-Babiasz, director of the Accessibility Department at the Avalon Foundation, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that her organisation receives many concerned calls from people with disabilities and their families who do not understand what they are supposed to do when an RCB alert arrives.
Specialist language and missing instructions
Lefik-Babiasz pointed to phrases such as “the situation is being monitored” as abstract and unhelpful, because they do not explain who is monitoring, where, or what impact this has on the person receiving the message. Terms like “in the airspace of the Republic of Poland” or “Polish aviation is operating” use specialist jargon that may be incomprehensible to people with cognitive disabilities, she said.
“We must remember that the recipients of these messages are people with very different needs. For some people with cognitive difficulties, this language is ambiguous, specialist and may make it difficult to understand the text. There is also a lack of information about what the person receiving it should do with this message,” Lefik-Babiasz told PAP.
One reader of Spider’s Web, Albert Żurek, described his frustration after receiving an alert that lacked crucial detail. He wrote that the most important information was missing: what does this actually mean for me? He was advised to follow official communications, but the message did not specify whether to wait for further RCB alerts or to check government websites and social media. He found no useful guidance in the media either, he said.
The government has made slight modifications to the wording in recent weeks, but the core problem remains, according to the report. Messages still do not explain clearly how people should behave.
Shelters may be inaccessible
Lefik-Babiasz also noted that telling people to seek shelter is insufficient if the nearest refuge is not accessible to someone with a mobility impairment. She added that the government’s official “Safety Guide” devotes more space to supporting animals than to people with disabilities.
The RCB told PAP that it has begun talks with groups representing people who need special assistance. Recommendations have been gathered from representatives of the deaf community, and further meetings are planned to adapt the way threats are communicated to the needs of different audiences.
The Ministry of the Interior and Administration announced recently that it is preparing to deploy a new Cell Broadcast warning system, a technology that sends instant alerts to all phones in a defined area, such as a town, county, voivodeship or the entire country. The system is scheduled to launch in 2027.
What this means for Poles in Poland
If you live in Poland or have family there, be aware that the current RCB alert system may not provide clear, actionable instructions during emergencies. People with disabilities, elderly relatives and those with limited Polish-language proficiency may find the messages especially difficult to interpret. The RCB has acknowledged the problem and is consulting disability advocates to improve future communications.
In the meantime, if you receive an RCB alert, try to find additional information on official government websites, local voivodeship pages and trusted news sources. If you or a family member has specific access needs, identify your nearest accessible shelter in advance and ensure you know how to reach it. The planned Cell Broadcast system, due in 2027, is expected to offer more targeted geographical alerts, but clearer language and practical guidance remain essential.