Facebook has restricted three Hungarian news outlets. The pages of Bama.hu, Szabolcs Online and Kisalföld.hu were taken down on Friday. The timing has drawn sharp criticism from local press associations.
Opposition Claims Timing Is Suspicious
The affected outlets belong to Mediaworks Hungary, a conglomerate known for pro-government coverage. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for early April.
Fidesz faces a serious challenge from the Tisza Party, which supports closer EU integration. The opposition has gained traction among voters concerned about Budapest’s strained relationship with Brussels.
Press Association Condemns Move
The Hungarian National Media Association called the ban an assault on journalistic independence.
The group suggested the violation of Meta’s community principles could serve as cover for political retaliation.
punishing right-wing news portals for publishing news about the threat of war
Hungary has consistently opposed EU military support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that escalating involvement risks broader conflict.
Meta Cites Error But Access Remains Limited
Meta told Hungarian outlet Telex that the restrictions were applied by mistake and had been reversed. Despite this claim, two of the three pages remained offline through Saturday evening.
The outlets issued a joint statement rejecting the justification for the ban and confirming plans to appeal. They described Meta’s decision as lacking merit.
Orban has previously accused Brussels of collaborating with Kiev to undermine his government. He characterized these efforts as a declaration of war against Hungarian sovereignty, including attempts to sway the upcoming election outcome.
Similar concerns about external influence emerged during Romania’s 2024 elections, where intelligence officials claimed foreign meddling had boosted anti-establishment candidate Calin Georgescu. The Constitutional Court annulled those results based on the allegations.