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← All fact checksMorning run · October 14, 2026 · #10 by reach
PoliticsTechnologyConflictEvent claim

What did Tomasz Siemoniak say about ABW and bot activity?

Did Polish special-services coordinator Tomasz Siemoniak present a fake, internet-sourced graphic about Russian bots collapsing after the Yandex strikes as ABW findings, as Sławomir Mentzen claims?

True, but…

Siemoniak's statements are true, but with caveats about the fake graphic claim.

Tomasz Siemoniak's statements about a decline in bot activity by ABW were correct, but the claim about him finding a fake graphic online lacks definitive proof.

+1Sources ↓Original post ↗

Claims

✓ 1 true

Tomasz Siemoniak found a fake graphic online.123

“Minister koordynator służb specjalnych znalazł w necie fejkową grafikę”

~ Partly trueCentral claimModerate confidence

The claim mixes accurate reporting with partisan implications. While it is true that a widely shared graphic was identified as AI-generated, there is no public evidence that Siemoniak personally found that specific graphic and presented it to the government as ABW's own material.

Siemoniak stated that these are ABW's findings.123

“Na posiedzeniu rządu powiedział, że to są ustalenia ABW / 'takie dane dostałem od ABW'”

✓ TrueHigh confidence

Siemoniak confirmed at a government briefing that ABW observed a significant reduction in bot activity. This statement is well-supported by multiple, independent sources.

The Tusk government is the source of the greatest disinformation!4

“Rząd Tuska jest źródłem największej dezinformacji!”

– OpinionHigh confidence

This statement reflects a political judgment rather than a verifiable fact. It is characterized by partisan rhetoric.

A text-only post: there was no media to test.

What was posted

X

Sławomir Mentzen claimed that Tomasz Siemoniak found a fake graphic online and referenced it in a government meeting, criticizing the government's handling of misinformation.

“Minister koordynator służb specjalnych znalazł w necie fejkową grafikę, a następnie na posiedzeniu rządu powiedział, że to są ustalenia ABW. Wspaniałe tekturowe państwo. A potem będą nam mówić, że trzeba walczyć z dezinformacją. Rząd Tuska jest źródłem największej dezinformacji!”

“The minister coordinator of special services found a fake graphic online and then said at a government meeting that these are the findings of ABW. Wonderful cardboard state. And then they will tell us that we must fight disinformation. Tusk's government is the source of the greatest disinformation!” — translated

Who posted it

X
@SlawomirMentzen

784K followers · Account 11 years old

View the account on X ↗

Account check

Looks like a genuine account95%
Likelihood of automation5%

Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.

What stood out

  • Sławomir Mentzen is a prominent Polish politician, entrepreneur, and tax advisor, born on November 20, 1986, in Toruń, Poland. He holds a PhD in economics from Nicolaus Copernicus University and has been active in politics since 2007. (en.wikipedia.org)
  • He is the chairman of the New Hope party and a co-leader of the far-right Confederation Liberty and Independence coalition. In the 2025 Polish presidential election, he secured third place with approximately 14.81% of the vote. (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Mentzen has a significant presence on social media, particularly on TikTok, where he is the most popular Polish politician with over 40 million views. (en.wikipedia.org)
  • His Twitter account (@SlawomirMentzen) has been active since May 2015, with over 784,000 followers and more than 10,000 posts, indicating a long-standing and engaged online presence. (playersells.com)
  • Mentzen's political platform includes national defense, economic libertarianism, and skepticism towards the European Union. He has been described as far-right by media and critics. (en.wikipedia.org)
Signals (2)+
Posting cadence
Approximately 2.4 posts per day
Notable news coverage
Mentzen's rise in Polish politics and his presidential campaign were covered by international media outlets such as Le Monde and El País. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/15/in-poland-the-far-right-on-the-offensive-two-months-ahead-of-the-presidential-election_6739194_4.html?utm_source=openai))

Account checked October 14, 2026, 03:04 UTC

Sources

4 sources reviewed

Further reading

  • 1Onet Onet details Siemoniak's comments regarding ABW's observations.
  • 2Interia Interia provides an overview of public reactions to Siemoniak's statements.
  • 3Tysol Tysol discusses the controversy surrounding the graphic and its misrepresentation.
  • 4Konfederacja (party website) Mentzen's statement shows the intersection of political commentary and factual reporting.

The full story

On October 13, 2026, at a government briefing, Tomasz Siemoniak discussed findings from ABW regarding a notable reduction in Russian bot activity. This was in response to discussions about the integrity of digital information, especially around events that had seen significant public engagement. Concurrently, a chart purporting to illustrate 'bot traffic' was circulating online, which independent analysts later determined was AI-generated. Although Siemoniak did reference ABW’s data, the claim regarding him personally 'finding' the chart lacks public confirmation and may serve a political narrative rather than clarify the situation about misinformation. Siemoniak's comments were part of a broader discussion on the authenticity of digital content and highlighted the ongoing challenges in dealing with misinformation in political discourse.

Kernel of truth

Siemoniak confirmed that ABW noted a decline in bot activity, while an AI-generated graphic was part of the discussion.

Timeline

  1. October 13, 2026

    Tomasz Siemoniak presented data from ABW at a government briefing. 1Onet

How it was framed

Misleading content

Mentzen’s claim blends true statements with unverified implications, suggesting a scenario without solid evidence.

  • Emotional language. Mentzen's use of 'wspaniałe tekturowe państwo' aims to provoke an emotional response.
  • Selective evidence. Mentzen highlights the government's incompetence while ignoring other perspectives.

Bias

NoneSlightModerateStrong

Leans anti-Tusk / partisan opposition. The post is a political attack from S42awomir Mentzen (Konfederacja) on the Tusk government. It combines a factual allegation (about Siemoniak presenting ABW data) with partisan rhetoric ('wspania2 tekturowe pa44stwo', 'r05d Tuska jest 7arf3d42em...'), indicating a partisan motive and framing.

Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.

How we checked

59 s
  1. 1

    We searched for news reports about Tomasz Siemoniak's statements regarding ABW and bot activity.

  2. 2

    We reviewed multiple Polish news outlets to confirm the accuracy of Siemoniak’s remarks.

  3. 3

    We checked for independent analysis of the viral graphic to understand its creation.

✓ Claim checked– Media not applicable✓ Sources checked

Why 80% confidence

Moderate

We have high confidence in our findings as they are supported by multiple independent sources.

Limits. We could not definitively verify Mentzen's claim about Siemoniak finding a specific fake graphic.

What we don’t know

  • Whether other graphics or data referenced by Siemoniak were previously known or discussed.
  • The full extent of the public impact from Siemoniak’s comments.

Spot it yourself

Find the overstatement

Looks suspicious, isn’t proof

  • Mentzen's tone is charged with emotion and partisan rhetoric.
  • Claims of specific events based on unverified anecdotes can raise doubts.
  • The lack of corroborating evidence for Mentzen’s sequence makes initial impressions more questionable.

The actual evidence

  • Siemoniak cited data from ABW during an official briefing.
  • Independent verification showed the widely shared graphic was AI-generated.
  1. 1

    Check for reliable reporting.

    Look for original sources that confirm the claims made.

  2. 2

    Identify the context of the statements.

    Examine when and where the information was presented.

  3. 3

    Research the credibility of the graphics or data shared.

    Find independent analyses that discuss the origins of charts in social media.

Takeaway

Political claims can sometimes present partial truths that serve a narrative. Always verify the factual basis before accepting claims as total truth.

Questions people ask

What did Siemoniak say at the government briefing?+

Tomasz Siemoniak stated that ABW observed a significant decline in Russian bot activity during a briefing on October 13, 2026.

Was the graphic shown by Siemoniak verified?+

There is no evidence that Siemoniak presented a specific graphic, though it was noted that some viral graphics were AI-generated.

What does Mentzen's statement imply?+

Mentzen suggests that Siemoniak misused information from ABW, framing it as purposeful deception. This remains unproven.

Go deeper

misinformation
False or misleading information shared without harmful intent.
disinformation
Deliberately falsified information shared to deceive.
bot activity
Automated online behavior that can manipulate public opinion or data.

People also search for

Siemoniak ABW statement bot activityfake graphic ABW SiemoniakTomasz Siemoniak government briefingMentzen ABW fake graphic accusationbot traffic graphic AI-generated claim
For educators+
Misinformation vs. disinformationThe role of authority in shaping public perceptionCritical analysis of news sources
  • How does political rhetoric influence public trust in information sources?
  • What are the responsibilities of government officials when sharing data?
  • Why is it important to verify sources and graphics circulating online?

About this check

Platform
X
Posted by
@SlawomirMentzen
Posted
October 13, 2026
Age when checked
Under 24 hours old when checked
Where it spread
PL, Russia
Audience
UK & EU audience
Language
PL
Status
● Post is live
Verified
October 14, 2026, 03:08 UTC
Published
October 14, 2026, 03:08 UTC

Reach. 6,964 likes; Siemoniak replied with a denial; covered by Onet, Interia, Rzeczpospolita and Brussels Signal

This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.

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