The publication by Human Rights Watch titled "Hungary: Media Curbs Harm Rule of Law”

underscores a pivotal concern regarding the rights of journalists and the daily challenges they
encounter. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has endorsed the disclosure of the government's
alleged use of powerful spyware to spy on critical journalists, politicians and business leaders
provoking a significant wave of criticism and protests within Hungary. A banner displayed by an
individual during a demonstration in Budapest on July 26,
2021, showed the Prime Minister’s eyes. In an artistic way
it showed deeply about current problems in freedom of
media which are still present. The intrusive actions of the
Hungarian government regarding media freedom impede
journalists from holding authorities accountable and impede
public access to information. This increased governmental
control over the media landscape correlates with a broader
assault on the rule of law in Hungary, encompassing the
erosion of judicial autonomy. The encroachment upon
media freedom and pluralism by the Hungarian
government, as part of its systematic undermining of the
rule of law, obstructs the endeavors of independent
journalists to hold authorities accountable and deprives the
public of vital information.

The author urges the European Union to acknowledge the deficiencies of this surveillance software,
along with the various issues and violations pertaining to fundamental human rights, such as freedom
of expression and privacy, as well as encroachments upon media freedom. The current move on this
topic is the reaction of the EU, which condemned the minister's decisions. Some officials within the
EU office regard these actions as an assault on the media, constituting a facet of the erosion of
Hungary's legal framework. According to the provided source, since 2010, the governing Fidesz-
KDNP coalition has utilized its authority to systematically dismantle media freedom and pluralism,
achieved through exerting control over the media regulatory apparatus, facilitating the dominance of
pro-government media, exercising direct political influence over public service broadcasters, and
financially incentivizing pro-government media outlets. Independent and investigative journalists
encounter significant impediments in their endeavors, including surveillance, threats, restricted or
absent access to decision-makers and public information, and smear campaigns orchestrated against
them through pro-government media channels.

The issue of media freedom is a global concern, and as a member state of the European Union,
Hungary is expected to set a precedent for other developing nations. The fundamental entitlement of
every individual is to access information and for the media to operate independently. Therefore, it is
incumbent upon us to lend support to courageous journalists who tirelessly advocate for objective
reporting, thus enabling individuals in the contemporary world to form informed opinions and avoid
being unduly influenced by media outlets with vested interests.

Human Rights Watch. (2024, February 13). Hungary: Media Curbs Harm Rule of Law.
Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/13/hungary-media-curbs-harm-
rule-law