Hungary

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Spotlight: Access to Information Hungary

Media freedom takes massive blow in Hungary

30 November 2018
South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM)

Pro-Orbán media owners 'donated' their news outlets to the Central European Press and Media Foundation, a newly formed conglomerate headed by a prominent Orbán supporter.

Hungary Censorship Free Expression & the Law

IFEX members call on EU leaders to support media freedom in Hungary

Concerns for press freedom have increased after the Prime Minister's ally took over of the last domestically owned broadcaster.

‎ International Press Institute (IPI) , Index on Censorship, South East Europe Media Organisation ‎ 8 August 2018

Hungary Attacks Free Expression & the Law

Hungary: New anti-immigrant laws shrink space for civil society

Newly passed 'Stop Soros' laws criminalising anyone who helps migrants meet with international condemnation.

‎ Global Voices Advox‎ 3 July 2018

Hungary Free Expression & the Law

Hungary: Draft law makes aiding migrants a crime

The Hungarian government ratchets up its persecution of migrants and civil society by introducing a bill which criminalises NGOs and individuals who work with asylum seekers.

‎ Human Rights Watch (HRW)‎31 May 2018

Latest from Hungary

PEN International leads high-level free expression mission to Hungary

‎ PEN International

Hungary Attacks 26 April 2018
Hungary: Election win for Fidesz is not a mandate for rights abuse

‎ Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Hungary Attacks 9 April 2018
In solidarity with civil society in Hungary

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, ActiveWatch – Media Monitoring Agency, Center for Independent Journalism - Romania, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 21 February 2018
Hungarian taxpayers fund unique 'fake news' industry

‎ International Press Institute (IPI)

Access to Information Hungary Attacks 16 November 2017
Hungary: An illiberal state in the heart of Europe

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 19 October 2017
Letter to European Commission protests Hungary's new NGO law

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 11 July 2017
European Parliament urged to adopt a resolution on the situation in Hungary

‎ Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch

Hungary Attacks Free Expression & the Law 26 April 2017
Hungary's academic freedom and expression at risk due to changes to education law

‎ Center for Independent Journalism - Hungary, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary 25 April 2017
Hungary's foreign funding bill a transparent attack on civil society

‎ IFEX

Hungary 24 April 2017
De-legitimise and obstruct: An assault on civil society in Hungary and Macedonia

‎ By Cathal Sheerin for IFEX

Hungary Attacks Macedonia 24 March 2017
Online abuse of Hungarian journalists ubiquitous, study finds

‎ International Press Institute

Hungary Attacks Digital Rights 10 March 2017
Hungarian civil defamation laws threaten political journalism

‎ International Press Institute

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 6 March 2017
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union on the government crackdown against civil society

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 1 February 2017
Sale of Hungary's largest opposition paper shows government influence over media

‎ Freedom House

Hungary Censorship 25 October 2016
Censorship by courier

‎ Caro Rolando for IFEX

Access to Information Hungary Censorship 12 October 2016
On fear, media freedom and responsibility: The refugee story in Hungary

‎ Caro Rolando for IFEX

Hungary Censorship Free Expression & the Law 30 November 2015
Protect Hungarians' right to criticise public officials, say IFEX members

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary 27 November 2015
Journalists covering refugee crisis censored, attacked by Hungarian authorities

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Access to Information Hungary Attacks Censorship 23 September 2015
Hungarian government must provide migrants with access to information, allow press to report freely

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Access to Information Hungary Freedom of Assembly Free Expression & the Law 17 September 2015
Journalists, human rights groups barred from entering migrant detention centres in Hungary

‎ Human Rights Watch

Hungary Free Expression & the Law 14 September 2015
Hungary: Condemning a camerawoman's shameful attack on refugees

‎ International Federation of Journalists

Hungary Attacks 10 September 2015
Human Rights Commissioner's report critical of Hungary's media freedom

‎ International Federation of Journalists

Hungary 30 December 2014
Mission journal: Creeping authoritarianism in Hungary

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists

Hungary Digital Rights Censorship Free Expression & the Law 14 November 2014
Hungary's Prime Minister should abandon “anti-democratic plan” to tax internet use

‎ International Federation of Journalists

Access to Information Hungary Digital Rights 30 October 2014
European Court rules Hungarian church act violates freedom of religion

‎ Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Hungary 11 September 2014
Slow and steady: Hungary's media clampdown

‎ Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

Hungary Censorship Free Expression & the Law 28 July 2014

At a glance

members working in this country 3

Most covered free expression issues in this country

More from Hungary

Freedom on the Net 2017: Hungary

An antiterrorism law came into effect in July 2016 that requires providers of encrypted services to allow authorities access to client data, raising privacy concerns

Freedom House 16 November 2017
Freedom of the Press 2017: Hungary

Hungary’s largest independent daily, Népszabadság, which has uncovered a string of scandals involving the ruling party, was unexpectedly suspended in October. Soon afterward, its parent company was sold to a firm linked to an ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Freedom House 27 April 2017
Online harassment of journalists in Hungary: Forms, coping mechanisms and consequences for press freedom

This report presents the findings of a three-month study focused on mapping, observing and analysing online harassment of journalists in Hungary. The study aimed to identify the types of harassment journalists are subject to, which journalists are typically harassed, who the harassers are, and how journalists cope with harassment.

International Press Institute (IPI) 9 March 2017

Civil Defamation and Media Freedom in Hungary: Trends and Challenges in Court Practice in Personality Rights Cases

READ AND DOWNLOADThis study analyses current trends in civil defamation and privacy cases in Hungary involving the media and summarises key challenges for freedom of the press and expression. Written by Hungarian media lawyer Bea Bodrogi, the study examined 250 court decisions related to civil protection of 'personality rights', an area in Hungarian law that includes defamation, privacy and personal image.

International Press Institute 2 March 2017

Freedom of the Press 2016: Hungary

In August, a leaked memo revealed that a public agency had instructed public television workers to avoid showing images of women and children in their coverage of the refugee crisis.

Freedom House 24 April 2016

Freedom on the Net 2015: Hungary

New per GB data transfer tax withdrawn following large protests

Freedom House 31 October 2015

Freedom of the Press 2015: Hungary

Ranked 71st in annual global media freedom report

Freedom House 1 May 2015

Freedom of the Press 2014: Hungary

Ranked 71st in annual global media freedom report

Freedom House 2 May 2014

Attacks on the Press in 2013: Hungary

"Hungarian lawmakers adopt the criminalization of libel"

Committee to Protect Journalists 11 February 2014

World Press Freedom Index 2014: Hungary

Ranked 64th in annual press freedom index

Reporters Without Borders 1 February 2014

Capturing Them Softly Soft Censorship and State Capture in Hungarian Media

Hungary’s independent media today faces creeping strangulation. State capture of Hungarian media is unfolding slowly but surely, principally through the “soft censor- ship” of financial incentives and influence that affect media outlets’ editorial content and economic viability.

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers 28 January 2014