Prime Minister Donald Tusk is taking part in an online debate with bloggers, tweeters and representatives of NGOs on a draft law which would, say critics, curtail freedom of expression on the internet.

The debate is online from 14.00 CET at PM Tusk’s web site at premier.gov.pl.

The event will be both virtual and actual, in that there will be a live audience with PM Tusk but also with those following it via social networking sites such as Facebook, blip and Twitter. The discussion will take about 2 hours.

Tusk wants to convince the country that the new law will not be detrimental to the freedom of the internet, said government spokesman Pawel Graś.

The draft law is actually part of the government’s war on gambling and seeks to snuff out online betting by creating a list of registered web sites.

A protest letter with 77 ,000 signatures has been sent to President Lech Kaczynski asking him to veto the amendment, which in their view, is "very dangerous and contrary to the interests of citizens.”

An opinion poll by the Homo Homini institute found, however, that only one-in-five Poles say they are strongly against the new amendment. (pg)