The Hungarian Government – in the name of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – has launched a public opinion survey in May 2011 under the name “Social Consultation 2011” which case recently gained major attention in the Hungarian media and same exposed the Data Protection Commissioner to heavy political attacks on the part of the Government parties.
On 5 July 2011 the Hungarian Data Protection Commissioner has released its final standpoint (Case Nr ABI-2136-3/2010/K) on the Street View service of Google, Inc relating to the Hungarian territory. The Commissioner held that Google may lawfully take street view photos in Hungary, however, the US based search giant shall comply with the requirements articulated by the Commissioner.
As reported earlier in our blog, in May 2009 the Hungarian DPA launched an ex officio investigation in connection with the Street View service of Google relating to Hungary when street view cars appeared on the streets of Budapest. Following the Commissioner’s formal inquiry and with a view to the negotiations on-going between Google and the Commissioner’s Office, Google decided to temporarily suspend the activity of its street-view cars in Hungary. The Commissioner published its final standpoint on the operation of the street view service of Google by 5 July 2011 (the pertaining press release is available here) which laid down several conditions which should be adhered to by Google.
The Hungarian Ministry of Public Administration and Justice has released by 7 June 2011 for the purpose of public consultation the first ministerial draft of the new Hungarian Data Protection Act (the Act on informational self-determination and freedom of information) which is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2012 along with the new Basic Law of Hungary. Notably, the Basic Law in its 6th Article regulates the fundamental right to privacy and data protection as well as its guarantees, including the set-up of an independent data protection agency which shall replace the Data Protection Commissioner and its Office.
Although the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice secured only 24 hours (sic!) for the public consultation of the draft bill, the editors of the present weblog have also compiled and submitted their general comments in relation to the draft legislation which we made available here (in Hungarian). (more…)
