Hungary’s government investigation into a controversial state-backed data deletion programme has intensified, with independent MP Ákos Hadházy arguing that the case alone would justify criminal proceedings against former minister Antal Rogán and businessman Gellért Jászai.
The controversy centres on the veglegestorles.hu (Permanent Deletion) system, which the current government says may have cost taxpayers around HUF 40 billion (gross), while it’s unclear whether millions of purchased data deletion codes were ever actually used.
Government suspects payments for unused licences
The Prime Minister’s Office recently announced that, during its review of the previous government’s operations, it examined contracts related to the state-run data deletion service.
According to the government, the documents suggest that approximately 15 million data deletion codes were purchased through contracts between the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Antenna Hungária and Certus Software Zrt.
Officials claim there are grounds to suspect that licence fees were paid even in cases where no actual data deletion took place. According to government figures, the contracts were worth around HUF 40 billion gross, while other publicly available data indicate that nearly HUF 31 billion had been paid by mid-2026.
Hadházy: ‘Enough to send Rogán and Jászai to prison’
Responding on Facebook, Ákos Hadházy said he was pleased that the government had finally recognised what he described as a “HUF 32 billion theft”, adding that he had raised concerns about the programme roughly a year ago.
Hadházy argued that the case alone would be sufficient to see former Cabinet Office minister Antal Rogán and businessman Gellért Jászai imprisoned if wrongdoing is proven.
He also pointed to reports suggesting that the state purchased millions of software licences costing around HUF 2,000 each, even though many were allegedly never used, either because consumers did not need them or were unaware they existed.
How the system worked
The permanent data deletion programme was introduced by the Orbán government in late 2020 to help consumers securely erase personal data from computers, smartphones, SSDs and other storage devices before selling or disposing of them.
Under the scheme, every newly purchased data storage device came with a unique deletion code that could be redeemed through the veglegestorles.hu website. The system involved several state bodies:
- the NMHH operated the service,
- government offices (and later Hungary’s tax authority (NAV)) distributed the codes,
- retailers provided them to customers,
- consumer protection authorities monitored compliance.
Initially, the codes were distributed on paper stickers before switching to a fully electronic system in 2024.
Questions over procurement and costs
The software itself was supplied by Certus Software Zrt., while Antenna Hungária operated the online platform. According to reports, the provider was selected without a public procurement procedure, under a government decree.
The state reportedly paid HUF 1,990 for every issued deletion code, regardless of whether the code was ever redeemed.
Public data indicate that between December 2021 and June 2026, almost 15 million codes were issued. However, neither the NMHH, Antenna Hungária nor Certus Software reportedly maintains records showing how many were actually used to erase data.
Financial statements also show that Certus Software’s revenues increased dramatically after securing the state contract, from virtually no significant turnover before the programme to nearly HUF 12 billion in annual net revenue by 2024, despite employing only a small workforce.
4iG distances itself from the contracts
Following Hadházy’s comments, the 4iG Group sent a statement to 24.hu, stressing that it was not involved in the contracts between the NMHH, Antenna Hungária and Certus Software. The company said that when the agreements were signed in 2021, 4iG did not yet own Antenna Hungária, and therefore had no involvement in the deal.
Experts question effectiveness
While experts agree that securely deleting personal data is important, some argue that the state-run system may not have been the most efficient solution. Modern operating systems already include secure factory reset and data wiping functions, while specialist companies that refurbish second-hand electronic devices often provide certified data destruction services. The current contract is due to expire on 30 November 2026, and it is unclear whether the programme will continue after that date or what legal consequences may result from the government’s investigation.
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