Press freedom threatened as Hungary criminalizes coronavirus 鈥渇ake news鈥� and hands Orb谩n sweeping powers
30.03.2020
Date:
30.03.2020
Number of cases:
1
Regions/Countries:
Hungary
Alert types:
Fake news regulation passed during Covid-19
MPs voted to pass new legislation handing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n sweeping new powers to rule by decree and tighten his control over the country鈥檚 media amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law criminalizes the spreading of misinformation deemed to undermine the authorities鈥� fight against the COVID-19 virus with fines and up to five years in prison.