Websites Black-out as Drastic Internet Censorship is Introduced in Hungary
Websites Black-out as Drastic Internet Censorship is Introduced in Hungary
Will the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the EU attack the Net?
Budapest, January 2nd 2001 — A new media law in Hungary creates a powerful
censorship authority without oversight and excessive powers under control of
the governing party, which endangers the freedom of speech, the Internet and
journalism as a whole. Citizens are called to black-out the Internet from the
5th January – when Hungary is taking over the EU presidency on the 6th January
2011.
The new Hungarian media law entered into force on January the 1st 2011. This
law enables the ruling party to gain control of the Internet through the
creation of a powerful censorship authority. While destroying journalistic
source protection the text also fails to distinguish between different types of
media, mixing online platforms and traditional broadcasters and making them
obey the same standards. The Hungarian ruling party deliberately avoided public
consultation on the new media law. It is plain to see their will to control and
censor the Internet while bypassing democracy and suppressing dissent,
opposition and transparency.
Concerned citizens’ opinion is confirmed by the joint analysis
of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Eötvös Károly Institute and the
Hungarian Helsinki Committee, who observe that
“…the Bill will enact a compulsory registration system for all content
providers. The maximum amount of fines for national television broadcaster is
set to 200 million HUF, and to 25 million HUF[1] for national printed and online
newspapers (including blogs with advertisements). The media authority will have
the power to suspend or even shut down Internet websites that does not meet the
requirements. The Bill will establish legal responsibility beyond the press for
intermediary providers. This shift would be in sharp contrast with EU
regulation. According to the original plans, decisions of the authority may be
subject to judicial review, but submitting a motion to the court would not have
any suspending effect as far as the execution of sentences is concerned.”
Hungary will take over the EU presidency on the 6th of January, while various
Member States are attempting to impose Internet censorship, amongst widespread
local and international protest about the new media legislation[2]. As the “Child
Protection” EU directive will attempt to sneakily impose censorship of the Net,
it is now very likely that the Hungarian Presidency will participate in the
global EU effort of censoring the Internet.
“All citizens, in Hungary and beyond, should react to this blatant attack
against the Internet! When the Hungarian government opens the box of Net
censorship, after the French and the Italian ones, it’s all of EU should be
afraid. We must warn EU citizens and reject any scheme of Internet censorship
altogether!” conludes Vince Kovács, spokesperson of blackout4hungary.
Citizens of Blackout4Hungary call on everyone on the Hungarian Internet and
beyond, to oppose Internet censorship by displaying an image, or turning their
whole website black (examples and images are available on
blackout4hungary.net) from January the 5th.
References
[1] Around 10 000 EUR
[2] EU presses Hungary on media law
About blackout4hungary
blackout4hungary is a group of concerned internet citizens with strong ties to
Hungary and Freedom.
Contact, Press
@blackout4hu
Vince Kovacs <info@blackout4hungary.net>
