Hungarian Data Protection Authority Declines Investigation into Data Leak Involving Minister
The Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) will not investigate how alleged criminal data of Roma protestors in Gyöngyös reached Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and pro-government media outlets, according to a response provided to 24.hu. NAIH President Attila Péterfalvi stated that those affected by the data handling can exercise their rights by requesting information from the data controllers who made the video public.
Péterfalvi added that individuals whose data was compromised can seek clarification regarding the data processing that occurred.
Ádám Remport, a lawyer with the Society for Freedom of Rights, told the news outlet that the response suggests the authority intends to avoid launching an official investigation into the matter. He noted that, as a fundamental rights protection body, the NAIH has a duty to act officially, particularly when potential abuse by government officials in positions of power is suspected, as permitted by law.
Remport further stated that even if a formal investigation isn’t always “mandatory” in every case, the NAIH should systematically enforce data protection principles.
The origin of the protestors’ sensitive personal data reaching János Lázár and the Fidesz party remains unclear. Lázár initially claimed police had identified the protestors at the scene, but the police force subsequently refuted this claim.
https://hvg.hu/360/20260205_lazar-janos-gyongyos-bunugyi-adatok-priusz-igazoltatas
The incident comes amid broader concerns about data security and privacy in Hungary. In July 2025, hundreds of Hungarian opposition activists’ data was leaked online following a breach at the TISZA Party, as reported by Átlátszó. The leaked database contained a wide range of personal information, including details about sexuality and political backgrounds, of over 500 individuals. TISZA Party leader Péter Magyar claimed the leak was part of a Russian smear campaign, alleging the database was compiled using publicly available information and Russian methods.
The NAIH launched an investigation into the TISZA Party data breach following the publication of the Átlátszó article.
Separately, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán launched a national security investigation in February 2026 into a massive data leak involving the Tisza Világ app, used by the opposition party for its primaries ahead of the 2026 parliamentary election. According to reports, the personal data of around 200,000 users was compromised. Orbán stated that Ukrainian individuals were involved in handling the data, raising concerns about a national security risk. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described the incident as “one of the biggest scandals in modern Hungarian political history,” warning that authorities in a country at war might now have access to highly personal information belonging to Hungarian citizens.
These incidents highlight growing anxieties surrounding data protection and potential foreign interference in Hungarian politics. The NAIH’s decision not to investigate the circumstances surrounding the leak of data related to the Gyöngyös protestors is likely to fuel further debate about the authority’s effectiveness, and independence.
According to a 2024 report from the NAIH, the authority is responding to increasingly complex data protection issues. The report notes an increase in lawsuits seeking court review of the Authority’s administrative decisions.
