Central Anticorruption Bureau

The Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) is a special service of the Republic of Poland, established to combat corruption in the public and economic spheres. Created under the 2006 law, the CBA aims to eliminate abuses in state and local government institutions. According to legislation, corruption includes various forms of promising, demanding, or offering undue material benefits, as well as the failure of public officials to fulfill their duties. Criticism that the CBA faced upon its establishment primarily concerned the broad definition of corruption and concerns about the potential misuse of the service for political purposes. Throughout its history, the CBA has been involved in controversies, such as high-profile arrests, including that of MP Beata Sawicka, and the use of undercover agents to gather information. The CBA is involved in combating crimes related to the financing of political parties, economic transactions, and the verification of asset declarations. Another important task is monitoring compliance with regulations regarding business activities by public officials and overseeing the use of EU funds. The CBA also has a range of powers, including issuing orders, conducting searches, and implementing telecommunications surveillance. The CBA is supervised by the Prime Minister, and its tasks are carried out in close cooperation with other institutions. In recent years, the Bureau has attracted media and public attention, particularly in the context of purchasing surveillance software, which has sparked serious discussions about the limits of its operations and the oversight of special services in Poland.