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Data-protection-based (GDPR) SLAPP cases in Hungary - HCLU’s report is now available
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU, in Hungarian: TASZ) has been addressing data protection (GDPR) -based SLAPP issues for several years. GDPR based SLAPP cases are legal proceedings, where influential individuals try to stifle journalism with the misuse of data protection. We represent numerous affected editorial offices and actively participate in the dialogue on the anti-SLAPP directive at the European level. It is our primary aim to learn as much as possible about this new phenomenon, and to use this knowledge to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the relevant stakeholders.
According to the Supreme Court of Hungary, it is not illegal to prohibit peaceful demonstrations therefore, HCLU appeals to the Constitutional Court
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) is appealing to the Constitutional Court to challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of Hungary, which upheld the police’s decision to ban solidarity demonstrations in support of the victims of the Gaza conflict. The Curia deemed the police’s decision to be lawful, despite evidence presented.
Media freedom in the EU in steady decline, annual report by 20+ civil liberties groups finds
Physical attacks, often by the police, and abusive lawsuits against journalists are on the rise, data protection rules are abused to restrict freedom of information, unchallenged media ownership concentration threatens pluralism, national security used as a pretext for laws that restrict free speech: problems reported in the previous year in most EU countries remain unresolved and in some cases even worsened in 2022, according to the Liberties Media Freedom Report 2023 (Report) published today.
Corruption Monitor - Summary from March 2020 to March 2022
In Hungary, the erosion of the constitutional state and the elevation of corruption to the status of a public policy tool are happening simultaneously, in close connection with each other, mostly hidden behind some alleged public interest objective. In the last two years, this alleged public interest objective has been to control the pandemic. K-Monitor and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union have been documenting this process since the start of the pandemics. The summary and final report of this work covers the period from March 2020 to March 2022. In our report, we present the most significant changes in the last two years that have increased opacity and hampered the fight against corruption, budgetary irregularities, the outsourcing of public assets and measures that disproportionately affect opposition municipalities.
Real, independent journalism is a key element of our work
We consider it important to highlight the following to our followers and partners concerning the article just published in the Hungarian propaganda media, which seeks to discredit a member of our staff and independent journalism.
A step backwards in hate crime legal practice in Strasbourg
On September 2nd, 2021 the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights has rejected our plea representing Andrea Giuliano, a gay rights activist. The Strasbourg court has therefore missed an opportunity to improve its case law on hate crimes against vulnerable group members.
Read our Corruption Monitoring Reports in English
In September 2020, K-Monitor and the HCLU launched a joint corruption monitoring program with the goal to evaluate the status of state corruption and the efforts made towards the dismantling of the rule of law in a report published every three months.
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.
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.
HCLU Turns to Court to Prevent Unconstitutional Founding of Pro-Government Media Empire
Plans to launch a new media empire called Central European Press and Media Foundation, KESMA (Hungarian abbreviation) would result in an unprecedented concentration of media outlets in Hungary. The Competition Authority (CA) was prevented from investigating the fusion by a decree of the Government declaring the deal of “national strategic importance in the public interest”. Since the fusion raises several doubts concerning its constitutionality, the HCLU turned to court.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS DO NOT GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AN EXCUSE TO SHUT OUT OPPOSING OPINIONS!
The government has submitted an amendment proposal that would exclude protests from the most important, symbolic public squares of Budapest during national holidays. Furthermore, it would empower local governments to remove further areas a no-protest zone.
