Incident
Hungary: National Sovereignty Protection Act and Sovereignty Protection Office, December 2023
On December 20, 2023, the president of Hungary, Katalin Novák, promulgated the National Sovereignty Protection Act, passed by the National Assembly, Hungary's parliament, during the government of the prime minister, Viktor Orbán. The law created a Sovereignty Protection Office empowered to investigate organizations, including news outlets, that it determined might be influenced by foreign actors or threaten national sovereignty. A week earlier, ten Hungarian media outlets had said the law "is capable of severely restricting the freedom of the press." After a change of government in 2026, the National Assembly abolished the office on June 30, 2026.1
What happened
On December 20, 2023, the president of Hungary, Katalin Novák, promulgated the National Sovereignty Protection Act, which the National Assembly, Hungary's parliament, had passed. The law created a Sovereignty Protection Office with power to investigate organizations, including news outlets, that it determined might be influenced by foreign actors or threaten national sovereignty.1234
In a joint evaluation a week before promulgation, ten Hungarian media outlets said the law "is capable of severely restricting the freedom of the press, potentially making it difficult or even impossible for independent newsrooms, journalists and media companies to operate," according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international organization based in Paris.1234
After a change of government in 2026, the National Assembly abolished the Sovereignty Protection Office on June 30, 2026. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a non-profit organization in New York, wrote in July 2026 that the office "had been used to harass and delegitimize independent media by labeling them threats to national sovereignty," and described Hungary's initial media reforms as promising but not yet backed by lasting safeguards.1234
Status as of 2026-09-22: Rescinded. The National Assembly abolished the Sovereignty Protection Office on June 30, 2026. CPJ wrote that lasting safeguards for media independence are still needed.4
What reason was given
Stated justificationThe law's sponsors presented it as protecting Hungary's national sovereignty against foreign influence over civil society and the media. Novák said the office would comply with Hungary's Basic Law, its constitution, and have no impact on press freedom, according to RSF.2
What changed for reporting
Hungarian news outlets that receive foreign funding could be investigated by the Sovereignty Protection Office from December 2023 until its abolition on June 30, 2026. CPJ wrote in July 2026 that the office "had been used to harass and delegitimize independent media by labeling them threats to national sovereignty."3
Timeline
2023
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| National Assembly of Hungary | legislated | National legislature |
| Viktor Orban | other | Prime Minister of Hungary (through 2026) |
Sources
- Hungary's sovereignty law: Viktor Orban's new dangerous provocation targeting independent media
- Hungary's initial media reforms are promising but lasting safeguards still needed
- Hungary: media freedom remains in crisis mode ahead of 2026 elections
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- Hungary's National Sovereignty Protection Act was promulgated.
the National Sovereignty Protection Act was promulgated by Hungarian President Katalin Novak yesterday (20 December)
Hungary's sovereignty law: Viktor Orban's new dangerous provocation targeting independent media, Reporters Without Borders, 2023-12-21.Claim 67, checked 2026-09-22. - The law was framed as a defense against foreign influence over Hungarian institutions, including media.
is capable of severely restricting the freedom of the press, potentially making it difficult or even impossible for independent newsrooms, journalists and media companies to operate.
Hungary's sovereignty law: Viktor Orban's new dangerous provocation targeting independent media, Reporters Without Borders, 2023-12-21.Claim 68, checked 2026-09-22. - The office created by the law could investigate and stigmatize independent media as sovereignty threats.
harass and delegitimize independent media by labeling them threats to national sovereignty
Hungary's initial media reforms are promising but lasting safeguards still needed, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2026-07-22.Claim 69, checked 2026-09-22. - Hungary's new government abolished the office as part of initial 2026 media reforms.
Hungary has a historic opportunity...to build a pluralistic media system that serves the public and cannot be politically captured again.
Hungary's initial media reforms are promising but lasting safeguards still needed, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2026-07-22.Claim 70, checked 2026-09-22.