Serious accusations against Hungary’s flagship in investigative journalism Átlátszó: “it undermines the foundations of statehood”
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The “political pressure organisation” Átlátszó (atlatszo.hu), funded by foreign interest groups, is operating “an informant system that undermines the foundations of statehood” through its “Ki mit tud” and “MagyarLeaks” wesbites, Mate Tordai, the foreign affairs director of the civil group CÖF-CÖKA, told a press conference on Tuesday.
Endless public interest data requests
“Ki mit tud“, he said, was a platform for mounting “endless” public interest data requests from state bodies while the “MagyarLeaks” platform leaked and spread that data. This system of whistleblowing supported by the Open Society Institute founded by George Soros, he added, “poses a threat to Hungary and Hungarian citizens” and “offers endless opportunities for abusing the right wing.”
He insisted that Átlátszó itself carried out such fictitious activity on behalf of non-existent persons.
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Information spread through “MagyarLeaks” could not be substantially verified, so it was essentially a “disinformation platform and a tool for smear campaigns”, he said.
Sharing data with international actors
Freedom of information requests came along with obligations and responsibilities, he said, mentioning the protection of national security and the rights of others.