Hungary AI regulation and digital state strategy

The Hungarian government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, has launched a new initiative to combat AI-driven manipulation and deepfakes. The centerpiece of this effort is the official website mihivatal.gov.hu, which serves as a platform for citizens to ask questions about artificial intelligence and report abuses, specifically regarding deep-fake content.

This initiative is part of Hungary’s implementation of the European Union’s AI Act, which mandates the labeling of AI-generated media. According to Science and Technology Minister Zoltán Tanács, the goal is to ensure the technology can be used safely while protecting individuals and businesses from deceptive digital media and misuse of AI-generated images or videos.

At the AI Summit Budapest, Minister Tanács expanded on the government’s strategy, detailing plans to integrate AI into state infrastructure to enhance public services through intelligent agents. To maintain technological sovereignty and mitigate risks of restricted access to advanced models, the government intends to seek high-level agreements with major American developers such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, though Tanács noted that Hungary’s diplomatic reputation regarding cybersecurity may impact these negotiations.

To counter rising disinformation and AI-enabled cyberattacks, the ministry is preparing a proposal to establish a unified national cybersecurity organization designed to consolidate defensive capabilities and improve response times. Minister Tanács has emphasized that advanced AI models significantly outperform human capabilities in cyberattack simulations, further necessitating this unified organization. Additionally, the government is addressing the educational impact of AI, focusing on using critical thinking and the Socratic method to complement AI tools rather than replacing human intellectual effort.