Intelligence agents could be stationed in newsrooms

Interview

State intelligence agents could be stationed inside newsrooms under an amendment to the national security law proposed by Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, Hungarian online daily index.hu reported today.

Interior Minister Sándor Pintér addressing a press conference about border patrols on October 20. (Photo: Károly Árvai/Prime Minister’s Office)

According to opposition Socialist MP Tamás Harangozó, if passed, the amendment would mean print newspapers, online news services, and television and radio stations would be required to hire employees belonging to national intelligence services, if the Interior Ministry asks them to do so.

The Interior Ministry did not deny this interpretation of the proposal, but Pintér said that the proposal has not yet been finalized, and modifications can be expected, according to index.hu.

The online daily reported that Pintér justifies the amendment by saying that the liberalization of the news market and postal service market, as well as changes in government structure, makes this extra level of surveillance necessary.

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