[governance] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] Websites Black-out as Drastic Internet Censorship is Introduced in Hungary

[Michael Gurstein]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: stef <stefan.marsiske at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] Websites Black-out as Drastic Internet Censorship
is Introduced in Hungary
To: face <face at ml.foebud.org>, fcforum_discussion
<fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net>, iindep info exchange hub
<hub at iindep.org>


blackout4hungary - For immediate release

Permanent Link:
http://blackout4hungary.net/en/Websites_Black-out_as_Drastic_Internet_Censor
ship_is_Introduced_in_Hungary.html


** Websites Black-out as Drastic Internet Censorship is Introduced in
Hungary
Will the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the EU attack the Net?

Budapest, January 2nd 2001 -- A new media law in Hungary creates a powerful
censorship authority without oversight and excessive powers under control of
the governing party, which endangers the freedom of speech, the Internet and
journalism as a whole.  Citizens are called to black-out the Internet from
the
5th January - when Hungary is taking over the EU presidency on the 6th
January
2011.

The new Hungarian media law entered into force on January the 1st 2011. This
law enables the ruling party to gain control of the Internet through the
creation of a powerful censorship authority. While destroying journalistic
source protection the text also fails to distinguish between different types
of
media, mixing online platforms and traditional broadcasters and making them
obey the same standards. The Hungarian ruling party deliberately avoided
public
consultation on the new media law. It is plain to see their will to control
and
censor the Internet while bypassing democracy and suppressing dissent,
opposition and transparency.

Concerned citizens' opinion is confirmed by the joint analysis
  http://www.ekint.org/ekint/ekint_angol.news.page?nodeid=395
of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Eötvös Károly Institute and the
Hungarian Helsinki Committee, who observe that

   "...the Bill will enact a compulsory registration system for all content
providers. The maximum amount of fines for national television broadcaster
is
set to 200 million HUF, and to 25 million HUF[1] for national printed and
online
newspapers (including blogs with advertisements). The media authority will
have
the power to suspend or even shut down Internet websites that does not meet
the
requirements. The Bill will establish legal responsibility beyond the press
for
intermediary providers. This shift would be in sharp contrast with EU
regulation. According to the original plans, decisions of the authority may
be
subject to judicial review, but submitting a motion to the court would not
have
any suspending effect as far as the execution of sentences is concerned."

Hungary will take over the EU presidency on the 6th of January, while
various
Member States are attempting to impose Internet censorship, amongst
widespread
local and international protest about the new media legislation[2]. As the
"Child
Protection" EU directive will attempt to sneakily impose censorship of the
Net,
it is now very likely that the Hungarian Presidency will participate in the
global EU effort of censoring the Internet.

"All citizens, in Hungary and beyond, should react to this blatant attack
against the Internet! When the Hungarian government opens the box of Net
censorship, after the French and the Italian ones, it's all of EU should be
afraid. We must warn EU citizens and reject any scheme of Internet
censorship
altogether!" conludes Vince Kovács, spokesperson of blackout4hungary.

Citizens of Blackout4Hungary call on everyone on the Hungarian Internet and
beyond, to oppose Internet censorship by displaying an image, or turning
their
whole website black (examples and images are available on
http://blackout4hungary.net) from January the 5th.

** References **
[1] Around 10 000 EUR
[2] EU presses Hungary on media law:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6408bc8a-0f65-11e0-b336-00144feabdc0.html#axzz194B
xml94

** About blackout4hungary **

blackout4hungary is a group of concerned internet citizens with strong ties
to
Hungary and Freedom.

** Contact, Press **
@blackout4hu
Vince Kovacs <info at blackout4hungary.net>

thanks for everyones support!
s

ps: for a detailed analysis see a post by Jan Albrecht:
http://janalbrecht.eu/2011/01/02/whats-the-problem-with-the-hungarian-media-
law/

--
gpg: https://www.ctrlc.hu/~stef/stef.gpg
<https://www.ctrlc.hu/%7Estef/stef.gpg> 
gpg fp: F617 AC77 6E86 5830 08B8  BB96 E7A4 C6CF A84A 7140

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