New law in Hungary criminalises violent online comments

This legislation imposes penalties, including up to a year in prison, for individuals who use electronic communication to express violent intentions toward identifiable individuals. The goal of the law is to address the growing concern over hate speech and harmful commentary that negatively impacts public discourse.

Concerns Over Definition and Application

The law, which was proposed on November 19, seeks to address comments that threaten violence or suggest extreme cruelty. Critics, however, express concerns over the law's broad interpretative scope, potentially leading to individuals facing police action for aggressive comments made online. Legal experts warn that the vague wording of the law could result in misuse and overreach, particularly during heated online exchanges.

Szabolcs Hegyi of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) highlights that while the intent may be to reduce harmful expressions, the definition of what constitutes a threatening comment is ambiguous. The legal text requires that comments directly address identifiable persons, but many expressions of anger or frustration could fall under this umbrella.

Impact on Online Communities

The new regulations will place additional responsibilities on online platforms and content moderators, as they will now need to monitor not just their own sites but also comments across social media. Hegyi points out that this burdens the already stretched resources of law enforcement, which may struggle to manage the influx of reports stemming from general online discourse.

Furthermore, the law does not extend its reach to comments made in private groups, suggesting a distinction in the public versus private expression of sentiments. Comments that escalate tensions or embody hate speech have raised questions about the enforcement of this new law in everyday online interactions.

In conclusion, while the initiative to curb online aggression is welcomed by some as a move towards protecting human dignity, the implications of enforcement and the potential for abuse in interpretation remain a contentious topic in Hungary.

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