Hungary proposes ending online public access to court hearings

The Hungarian government has submitted a judicial bill that proposes to abolish the online public access to court hearings. The proposal seeks to repeal a 2025 Ministry of Justice decree that allowed audiences to participate in civil, administrative, and criminal proceedings online through a registered and identified login process.

According to the bill's justification, while online access was originally intended to support legal education, scientific research, and social control, it now poses disproportionate risks to the timeliness of proceedings, the integrity of evidence, personal data protection, and general court operations.

Additionally, the legislation aims to transpose the 2024 European Parliament and Council SLAPP Directive into Hungarian law. This directive is designed to protect journalists and civil society members from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, which are intended to stifle public engagement rather than enforce actual legal rights. The proposal also includes updates to civil law regulations, addresses legislative gaps identified by the Constitutional Court, and incorporates EU rules regarding liability for defective products and majority voting shares.