Sajtó-szólásszabadság

Facebook Act: The regulation should not be about censorship, but about transparency

The platforms are mostly criticized because of deletion of comments and disabling profiles, but the main problem is that the users cannot check up on the background of the decision affecting them.

Statement on the minimum requirements of the regulation on social media platforms

The aim of the following statement is to lay out the fundamentals regarding the regulation of the managers of social media platforms that has been heralded in the press many times [1] and was promised for this spring (but was not, however, listed in the legislation program for this spring [2]), and which cornerstones the state regulation shall be prepared to comply with according to international hard and soft law [3]. The requirements defined in this statement are general for the time being, since we will only be able to answer every question after getting to know the actual rules that will be made. Their aim is to set out the requirements of the minimal protection that the regulation should at all events comply with. Therefore, the regulation may provide more, but not less guarantees in order for the relevant fundamental rights to prevail.

Not even the court would stop the Media Council, Klubrádió will no longer stay on air

The Metropolitan Court of Budapest dismissed the action brought by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) on behalf of Klubrádió against the decision of the media authority to silence the radio station without giving detailed reasons.

GDPR weaponized – Summary of cases and strategies where data protection is used to undermine freedom of press in Hungary

Recently, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (hereinafter: HCLU) has represented multiple media outlets in GDPR based civil and administrative procedures in which the right to data protection was invoked to repress the freedom of press.

International response to the internet disruption measures of Belarusian authorities

In relation to the presidential elections, human rights violations have occurred in the online.

Another win for HCLU: ban of journalists from Parliament violates European standards

The speaker of the House violated the freedom of the press when banning journalists from the Hungarian Parliament building, ruled the European Court of Human Rights today. The six applicant journalists were represented by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.

Coronavirus - Frequently asked questions

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

Make the registering procedure for Orbán’s press conferences public!

The government is working hard to obscure the events and to confuse the public opinion following the banning of several editorial offices - including the staff of 24.hu, one of the most read online portals - from Orbán’s annual “Orbáninfo” last Thursday. While the fact alone that the Prime Minister is willing to expose himself -once a year - to journalists independent from the government is a rarity, it is decided entirely arbitrarily who may be given this opportunity and who will be denied entry.

Hungarian Parliament fails to advance defamation reform bill, says IPI

The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed disappointment over the decision of the Hungarian Parliament’s Justice Committee not to advance a bill that would have repealed criminal defamation and established safeguards against the abuse of civil defamation law.

Criticism of Public Officials Is a Right and a Duty!

You must be daring to quip about politicians in Hungary these days: journalists, bloggers and ordinary people have been brought to court for such deeds.

Hungarian rapper faces criminal charges for kicking head of statue

On 23 October 2013 rapper László Pityinger, known as Dopeman, was a speaker at a political demonstration arranged by political group Szolidaritás. During the demonstration the audience symbolically toppled and cut off the head of a statue representing the prime minister of Hungary. The rapper kicked the detached head which resulted in a criminal investigation. Dopeman will be represented by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) during the procedure.

Concerns about media legislation in Hungary (part I)

The HCLU recaps the concerns about the Act CIV of 2010 on Freedom of the Press and on the Basic Rules Relating to Media Content

The Hungarian Parliament approved the draft bill on the so-called media-constitution, with the official title: Act CIV of 2010 on Freedom of the Press and on the Basic Rules Relating to Media Content, which was passed in November 2010 and entered into force on 1st January 2011.