Is Hungary's Internet Freedom at Risk?

Published: December 09 2023

The media authority in Hungary, NMHH, has criticized Freedom House's report on internet freedom in the country, stating that it reflects methodological shortcomings and contains inaccuracies. The report gave Hungary a score of 69 out of 100 and labeled it as "partly free," but NMHH claims that the evaluation was based on the opinion of a single staff member from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union TASZ. NMHH argues that the report is biased and fails to present opposing views.

According to NMHH, the report on internet freedom in Hungary has methodological shortcomings and inaccuracies. The authority criticized the sources cited in the report, stating that they were biased in their criticism of the media landscape in Hungary. NMHH also pointed out that the report included events that occurred outside the evaluation period and cited outdated sources.

The criticism of the report on internet freedom comes at a time when there are concerns about media freedom in Hungary. The government has emphasized the importance of quality communication and reflecting reality in the media. There is a recognition of the challenges faced by the media and the need to respond appropriately.

Justice Minister Bence Tuzson highlighted the generational communication gap during his speech at the Carpathian Basin Hungarian Media Conference. He emphasized the responsibility of the media and journalism to adapt to the fast-changing world and effectively convey important and truthful information to the audience. The conference aimed to discuss how Hungarian journalists can meet the challenges in the field of media and law.

Tuzson emphasized that Hungary's prime minister sees himself as the prime minister of all Hungarians, including those living beyond the country's borders. This commitment means that the government has an obligation to implement measures that consider the interests of all Hungarians.

In conclusion, the criticism of Freedom House's report on internet freedom in Hungary by NMHH raises concerns about the objectivity and accuracy of the report. There are ongoing discussions about the state of media freedom in Hungary and the need for quality communication. The generational communication gap and the commitment to representing all Hungarians are also important topics in the context of the media landscape in Hungary.

Is Hungary's internet freedom at risk? Freedom House's report on internet freedom in Hungary suggests that there may be concerns about internet freedom in the country. The report has been criticized by Hungary's media authority NMHH for methodological shortcomings and biases.

What is the score of Hungary in terms of internet freedom according to Freedom House's report? According to Freedom House's report, Hungary has a score of 69 out of 100 and is categorized as "partly free" in terms of internet freedom.

Who conducted the analysis of Freedom House's report in Hungary? The analysis of Freedom House's report was carried out by Hungary's media authority NMHH with the aim of providing feedback and assisting in the objective evaluation of the issues examined.

What criticisms did NMHH have regarding Freedom House's report? NMHH criticized the report for its methodological shortcomings, biases, and inaccuracies. They argued that the report's evaluation of Hungary was based on the assessment of a single staff member of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union TASZ, who was also the author of the report.

What issues did NMHH raise about the sources cited in the report? NMHH claimed that the sources cited in the report were biased in their criticism of the media landscape in Hungary. They also argued that the report presented unsupported subjective opinions and failed to present opposing views. Additionally, NMHH criticized the report for including events that fell outside the period of June 2022 to May 2023, such as the temporary closure of the Magyar Nemzet daily in 2018. NMHH also highlighted outdated sources referenced in the report, such as a document from 2007 regarding internet access.

What did NMHH state regarding their independence as a media authority? NMHH claimed that the report made assertions regarding their independence that were inaccuracies and required correction.

What was discussed at the Carpathian Basin Hungarian Media Conference? The Carpathian Basin Hungarian Media Conference discussed the challenges faced by Hungarian media and journalists and how to provide the right response. It also focused on the significance of quality communication that reflects reality.

What did Justice Minister Bence Tuzson emphasize in his speech at the conference? Justice Minister Bence Tuzson emphasized the responsibility of the media and journalism to stand their ground in a fast-changing world. He highlighted the need to distinguish between important and non-important information, as well as between what is real and what is not.

What did Justice Minister Bence Tuzson say about Hungary's prime minister? Justice Minister Bence Tuzson stated that Hungary's prime minister is no longer just the prime minister of a country enclosed by borders but the prime minister of all Hungarians. He emphasized the government's obligation to implement measures that consider the impact on all Hungarians, including those beyond the country's borders.