Repeal of Hungarian Communications Act Gets Amicus Support

Open Rights Group, Privacy International and internationally renowned experts file amicus curiae briefs with the Hungarian Constitutional Court in a case to repeal the country's communications act.

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union has brought a case against two major service providers to the Hungarian Constitutional Court in an effort to repeal the Hungarian Electronic Communications Act. The case is supported by amicus briefs from Open Rights Group, Privacy International and a group of internationally renowned experts.

The submissions focus on the importance of EU law and why Hungarian law does not comply with it. In particular, Open Rights Group and Privacy International emphasize: the carefully calibrated EU rules in the field of data retention and data protection; the importance of the retention of "communications data" or "metadata"; the seriousness of data retention as an interference with human rights; and the need for effective remedies in national legal systems to address breaches of EU law.

The final ruling of the Hungarian Constitutional Court is expected in one month.

The amicus brief of ORG and PI can be read here.

The amicus brief of the group of international scholars can be read here.

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