Civil Liberties Groups Worried About Hungarian Media Censorship Just As Hungary Takes Over EU Presidency
from the timing-is-everything dept
We had already discussed how Hungary’s new media censorship laws seemed particularly draconian — requiring all reporting to be sufficiently “balanced” or the media may receive a fine and all media must reveal their sources. It appears the new law is getting a lot more attention, as its coincides with Hungary taking over the Presidency of the EU. Civil liberties groups are protesting the new law and calling for a media blackout. I’d be surprised if any such blackout is effective but having more people speak out in general about such laws hopefully will lead the Hungarian government to reconsider its policies.
Filed Under: civil liberties, hungary, journalism, regulations
Comments on “Civil Liberties Groups Worried About Hungarian Media Censorship Just As Hungary Takes Over EU Presidency”
Effectiveness
A media blackout might actually work. It likely depends more on how active the viewing audience is than how large it is. Remember that a similar tactic “worked” in Spain; their MAFIAA inspired bill was rejected, though it was reintroduced soon after if I recall correctly.
precisely what powers will they have as president of the EU? (that pertain to this situation) Just curious.
Re:
“precisely what powers will they have as president of the EU?”
The title “President of the EU” is inaccurate and meaningless (I know this comes from Mike), the role that Hungary has is President of the Council of the European Union (Not to be confused with President of the EU Commission, or President of the European council).
The only real ‘power’ that they have is to set the agenda for the council of the European Union. It’s the least powerful of the three commonly misunderstood “EU President” roles.
Its the same in the US, its the same in most places, but tell the real story please Mike.
requiring all reporting to be sufficiently “balanced” or the media may receive a fine
thats funny you say that now, you specifically say ALL REPORTING
But you know that is not really true right Mike ??
after all that is not what you said in your earlier article you refer us too. it will quote it for you.. incase you forget..
Apparently, any content judged not to be “politically balanced,” will get fined.
There is a huge difference, most countries, including YOUR’S does the same thing, both in the media and in politics, The UK does it, equal time, and political balance, the right of reply and so on.
And it is not controlled by the ruling government, it is control by the laws. The governments have to obey the laws just like anyone else.
The opposition parties will not let them get away with it not being balanced. That applies in every country..
So does censorship, you do not think everything you see and hear on TV and radio has not been past censors first ?
No matter where you live ?
I live in Australia, We have laws ensuring balance in political reporting, we also have rules about fair and unbiased, and ethical reporting. And many rules regarding that, unlike you Mike, real reporters, have to live by ethical standards, they cannot generally just make up stuff they think some people will believe.
So I find it hard to understand who you can be at all surprised that hungry is doing what every other country does including USA, there are a few that do not, but they are usually dictatorships.. not democracies.
And when you remove censorship from the US then you can comment about other countries censorship laws, how is it any more or less draconian that what you’re elected officials do ?? what they should do, and what they were elected into Government to do.. like it or not..
Its the same in the US, its the same in most places, but tell the real story please Mike.
You forgot your name darryl.
Its the same in the US, its the same in most places, but tell the real story please Mike.
You forgot to log in Darryl.
The words news and balanced in the same sentence … wow that’s a laugh.
Its the same in the US, its the same in most places, but tell the real story please Mike.
incoherent troll is incoherent.
Europe in it’s greed is turning into a capitalist country with a communist agenda concerning human rights. I say the EU sucks and produces nothing but consumers just like the US. So who needs them. Maybe we could all go skiing. Besides they will be mostly under water by 2020.
Its the same in the US, its the same in most places, but tell the real story please Mike.
There is a huge difference, most countries, including YOUR’S does the same thing, both in the media and in politics, The UK does it, equal time, and political balance, the right of reply and so on.
Darryl has promised recently that he only speaks in factual terms and would apologize if he did not. I called him out over the weekend for a lie, and he (not surprisingly) ignored it.
Yet here he is, yet again, making a false claim that the US has a right of reply law. It does not.
Furthermore, he falsely is claiming that the new Hungarian law is simply a right to reply law. He ignores that it’s much more than that. This is not just a right to reply, but a law that says if the *initial* story is not balanced enough you can be fined.
On top of that there’s the requirement that people hand over sources, which has nothing to do with a right to reply.
So, Darryl is 100% wrong yet again, while insisting that he deals only in facts. Will he admit it? Let’s wait and see…
perhaps the question to ask is, where is the backing/encouragement for Hungary’s new media censorship laws coming from? perhaps the same place as those in Sweden?