Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union is a human rights NGO. Since our foundation in 1994, we have been working for everybody being informed about their fundamental human rights and empowered to enforce it against the undue interference by those in position of public power.

our focus areas & news

Joint civil society statement: States use of digital surveillance technologies to fight pandemic must respect human rights

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency that requires a coordinated and large-scale response by governments worldwide. However, States’ efforts to contain the virus must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of greatly expanded systems of invasive digital surveillance.

New protocol on COVID-19

With the progress of the epidemic, it became crucial to change the healthcare protocol, which determines for example who needs to be tested for the coronavirus. Here’s a brief look at how to comply with the new regulations.

Unlimited power is not the panacea

Assessment of the proposed law to extend the state of emergency and its constitutional preconditions

A carte blanche mandate for the Hungarian government with no sunset clause is not the panacea to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus in Hungary. We need strong rule of law safeguards and proportional and necessary emergency measures, not unlimited government rule by decree that can last beyond the actual epidemic crisis.

Coronavirus - Frequently asked questions

Our answers to the most important questions regarding the current epidemiological situation in Hungary can be found here.

Coronavirus and quarantine: What sort of measures are applied and against whom?

The National Centre of Public Health issued a comprehensive protocol at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in Hungary. We made an infographic with the most important details.

Guidelines for ethical hackers

Benevolent hackers, who uncover vulnerabilities in the IT systems of state-owned or multinational companies for the public good, without harmful intention or financial interest, calling attention to deficiencies potentially affecting the rights and interest of thousands, often still end up being prosecuted rather than thanked. In this guide, we would like to provide advice to ethical hackers on how to avoid being reported and prosecuted. We have provided legal representation in several criminal procedures against ethical hackers, and in our experience, you, as an ethical hacker, can do a great deal to convince the court as well as the public that you acted with good intentions. If you follow our advice, it will be easier for you at court.