Disturbing trend on restrictions affecting participation and access to information

15-05-2013
Acts on the freedom of information have recently been modified in a restrictive way in a number of countries, including Hungary, Denmark and South Africa.

In Hungary, the Act on the Freedom of Information was modified on April 30th, 2013 through an exceptional and urgent adoption process. The modifications were adopted within 48 hours of submission without any public consultation. Hungarian watchdog organizations (including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Transparency international, K-Monitor, atlatszo.hu) have launched a campaign calling on the President not to sign the modifications, but ask for a preliminary control of the Constitutional Court as modifications restrict the fundamental right to public information and dissemination, and hence the freedom of expression. Moreover, they decided to resign from the anti-corruption working group organized by the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice. In the end however, the new Act was adopted on June 11.