Deputy State Secretary for International Communications Ferenc Kumin participated at the conference entitled Internet 2013: Shaping policies to advance media freedom; organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria.

In his short address, Ferenc Kumin stressed that Hungary fully supports the statement of the European Union that was issued at the end of the conference. The paper highlights the importance of media freedom as an essential precondition to a well-functioning democracy, and that accordingly the free flow of information should not be restricted. It also underlined that a safe online environment must be assured in which the protection of minors is guaranteed.

The Deputy State Secretary, who is also very active in online media, described the Hungarian online news media as an independent and thus critical and plain-spoken channel of communication, adding that its autonomy reflects the freedom of the press very well.

He added that in Hungary, the online news realm has a very healthy self-regulatory system and there is no need from Hungarian authorities to interfere in those areas addressed by the conference. In fact, there has never been any case of such interference by the authorities with regard to online news content.

He also noted that in a study by Freedom House issued in October 2012, Hungary ranked no. 5 on a global list in terms of internet freedom, which is an important sign of the unlimited nature of Hungarian online media.

(Prime Minister’s Office)