A fresh investigation has revealed that Hungarian intelligence services may be using a controversial Israeli-developed surveillance tool, raising serious legal and ethical questions within the European Union.
According to findings published by VSquare and journalist Szabolcs Panyi, the system in question—known as Webloc—has reportedly been deployed for large-scale tracking operations.
How the technology works, and why it is so dangerous
Webloc, developed by Cobwebs Technologies, is an artificial intelligence-driven tool capable of monitoring vast numbers of individuals. It works by collecting and analysing advertising data generated by smartphone applications, allowing authorities to track users’ locations without their knowledge or consent.
Investigators, including experts from Citizen Lab, suggest that the software can potentially monitor hundreds of millions of people globally. Such capabilities have sparked concerns that its use may breach the EU’s strict data protection framework, including GDPR regulations.
Just in: “Betrayal” – Hungary’s government heavily criticised by France for co-operating with Russia.
The Hungarian government have been using this software for years now
The report claims that Hungarian intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been using Cobwebs tools for at least five years. Among the organisations allegedly involved are the National Information Centre and the Constitution Protection Office.
Licences for the software were reportedly obtained through SCI-Network Zrt., a company led by Tamás Berki. Documents cited in the investigation indicate that the licences were renewed as recently as March 2026, shortly before Hungary’s parliamentary elections.
There is a domestic alternative, too, but that turned out to be subpar
The renewal appears to follow the failure of a Hungarian-developed alternative known as Quvasz (or QU-VASZ). Despite reportedly costing HUF tens of billions, the domestic system proved significantly less effective than the Israeli technology.
The Hungarian government is believed to be the first EU member state confirmed to have used such a tool, potentially placing it in violation of European law. The revelations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the government of Viktor Orbán, which has previously faced criticism over surveillance practices.
Featured image: Orbán Viktor/Facebook
I won’t say here what I call people like Orbán. Is this someone who calls himself a Christian?
Ahead of the election in Hungary, several networks are spreading numerous AI-generated fake news stories about Orbán’s challenger, Magyar. These stories primarily attribute false claims to him regarding Ukraine.
A news anchor reports on alleged outbursts of anger by the Hungarian politician Péter Magyar of the Tisza party. The report includes video clips that supposedly prove this aggressive behavior. Magyar has shown his “true colors,” the anchor claims. However, she is not real, and the report never existed. It is an AI-generated fake.
This fake news report is not an isolated incident. Deutsche Welle (DW) reported that a bot network was disseminating fake videos styled after media outlets like DW and Reuters. The clips contain the false claim that Ukrainian refugees are planning an attack on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, there was no evidence of such attack plans, nor did the relevant media outlets report on them.
The organization NewsGuard also writes in an analysis that an influence operation has targeted the parliamentary elections in Hungary this coming Sunday. According to NewsGuard, hundreds of AI-generated TikTok videos have been circulated to strengthen incumbent Prime Minister Orbán and discredit his challenger, Magyar.
“We identified a total of 34 accounts on TikTok that are part of this covert influence campaign,” says Alice Lee, an analyst at NewsGuard and co-author of the study. With their posts, these channels are attempting to stoke fears among the Hungarian population should Magyar win the election.
A wide range of AI-generated videos are being used to achieve this, disseminated by these accounts: For example, the videos feature talking animals spreading anti-Magyar messages or include fake news reports with defamatory claims about Magyar and his party. AI-generated videos showing actors like Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio speaking negatively about Hungarians were also circulated.
“What’s striking about these accounts is that most of them were created within just two days, suggesting a coordinated effort,” says Lee. Furthermore, the accounts are anonymous, and their profile pictures all contain similar patterns.
‘I won’t say here what I call people like Orbán. Is this someone who calls himself a Christian?’
I won’t say here what I call people like Merkel, Scholz, or Merz, Dear Karl.
Are these the sort of people who call themselves Germans, much less Christians?
Collect your salary payment from Russia, but don’t bother me with your nonsense. I won’t engage with your nonsense in the future either.
The German Embassy has sent the following letter to all Germans residing in Hungary and registered with the embassy (excerpt):
Dear fellow citizens,
Parliamentary elections will be held in Hungary on April 12. Political demonstrations are to be expected in connection with the elections. We therefore ask you to take note of the following information:
– Stay informed daily by following local and international media, including updates on the security situation and possible restrictions (e.g., on public transport).
– Be vigilant and be aware of potential risks in the vicinity of crowds and demonstrations.
Please also keep your contact details stored in ELEFAND up to date and feel free to draw the attention of German relatives, acquaintances, and guests to the crisis preparedness list of the Federal Foreign Office.
……..
This doesn’t sound like conditions in a civilized country!
‘This doesn’t sound like conditions in a civilized country!’
A lack of privacy, Dear Karl, is NOT a Hungarian affair.
In Germany, you, and all your neighbours, are relentlessly surveilled by y’all’s government, just as I and my people are surveilled in the disUnited States.
Collect your salary payment from Russia, but don’t bother me with your nonsense. I won’t engage with your nonsense in the future either.
Unfortunately, unwarranted surveillance is a constant in The West – law irrespective.
One may cut down on how much one is surveilled, by choosing not to have a cellphone, but, even so, some aspects of your life will be surveilled.
@mouton – our Kremlin sock puppet.
Breakdown:
Deflection through Generalization: The comment takes a specific, serious allegation—the use of specialized spy software by a government against its own citizens or journalists—and rebrands it as a universal, inevitable problem of “The West.” This is designed to make the reader feel that since surveillance happens everywhere, the specific actions of the Hungarian government aren’t uniquely wrong or worth investigating.
The “Both Sides” Fallacy: It equates state-sponsored digital espionage (like Pegasus or similar malware used to target dissidents) with the general data collection of cellphones and consumer tech. This blurs the line between commercial data privacy and the targeted violation of civil liberties by a state power.
Fatalism and Apathy: By suggesting that surveillance is a “constant” regardless of the law, the post encourages a sense of political helplessness. The goal is to make the public stop demanding legal accountability, under the assumption that “the law doesn’t matter” anyway.
Anti-Western Framing: By specifically naming “The West” as the source of this “unwarranted surveillance,” the narrative aligns with broader disinformation goals to paint Western democratic institutions as hypocritical and fundamentally broken.
Deutschlandfunk reports that the German government has rejected accusations by US Vice President Vance regarding alleged interference by the European Union in the Hungarian election campaign.
A government spokesperson in Berlin said that the fact that Vance himself traveled to Budapest to support Prime Minister Orbán speaks for itself. It is therefore obvious who is actually interfering. The European Union respects the democratic processes in its member states.
Ja, js, Mein Lieber Karl – in den vierzigen Jahren berichtete der Deutsche Rundfunk viel, and wie viel war eigentlich wahr?
Collect your salary payment from Russia, but don’t bother me with your nonsense. I won’t engage with your nonsense in the future either.
Investors are positioning themselves for a post-Orban Hungary!
After Viktor Orban’s 16 years in power in Hungary, international investors are saying they are prepared for the once unthinkable scenario that the provocative prime minister—a constant troublemaker within the EU—could be voted out of office this weekend, according to MarketScreener.
Significant share price declines for companies with ties to Orban, along with volatility indicators in the foreign exchange market pointing to potentially extreme movements in the forint, show that investors are clearly betting on a change.
“I would say the market is positioning itself for an Orban defeat,” said Viktor Szabo, emerging market debt portfolio manager at Aberdeen in London, which increased its exposure to Hungarian government bonds last month.
Orban’s position has become precarious after three years of economic stagnation, a cost-of-living crisis since the war in Ukraine, and revelations about his ties to Russia.
Hungary’s government bonds are in the spotlight for investors, as a victory for Magyar and his Tisza party could pave the way for around €18 billion ($21 billion) in EU funding that has been frozen due to concerns about democratic standards. This amount represents about 8% of Hungary’s expected gross domestic product (GDP) for this year.
“This money would give a much-needed boost to investment, which has been a weak point in Hungary for years,” Szabo explained, adding that better growth would also benefit public finances.
In any case, the EU’s longest-serving head of government is unlikely to concede without a fight, which could complicate any transition to a new government, some analysts warn.
While Hungary’s currency, stock market and bonds have largely outperformed in light of the prospect of a Tisza victory, it would be complicated to reverse even Orban’s most controversial reforms without a parliamentary supermajority – which JPMorgan analysts estimate at only a 5-10% probability.
Heute.at reports that Orbán is making Hungary almost as corrupt as Ukraine. Under Viktor Orbán, companies belonging to his friends and associates are raking in billions in taxpayer money. Hungary is steadily plummeting in the corruption index.
“This reflects a decade-long structural weakening of integrity mechanisms, exacerbated by democratic backsliding, conflicts, institutional fragility, and deeply entrenched patronage networks,” the report states.
The world’s best-known corruption index is compiled by Transparency International and ranks 182 countries according to the level of perceived corruption in politics and administration. The scale ranges from 0 (high level of perceived corruption) to 100 (no perceived corruption).
Orbán’s Hungary will soon be on the same level as Ukraine. However, Ukraine is working intensively to drain its swamp of corruption, which is why it has been gaining points for years – the exact opposite trend.
https://www.heute.at/s/orbans-netzwerk-kassiert-milliarden-aus-staatsauftraegen-120179951
Development:
https://e.infogram.com/ffc579e6-a8b3-48f4-8760-b4bb99ba7381?src=embed&embed_type=responsive_iframe
Just days after the Pope’s State of the World Address in early January, the Pentagon summoned a Vatican representative. The Trump administration threatened the Pope, who then canceled his trip to the US! This was reported by Focus magazine.
According to the report, Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense, told Cardinal Christophe Pierre: “The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants, anywhere in the world. The Catholic Church would be wise to side with them.”
Another US official then reportedly brought up the “Avignon Papacy.” This refers to a period in the 14th century when the French monarchy brought the Catholic Church under its control and later ordered an attack on Pope Boniface VIII, which led to his overthrow and subsequent death.
What does the self-proclaimed “super-Christian” Orban have to say about this?
Is this also part of Putin’s plan for Orbán?
Focus reports that Western military observers consider Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania potential targets of Russia’s next military aggression. Against this backdrop, incidents such as airspace violations and disinformation campaigns could be precursors to an invasion of one or more of the former Soviet states. Accordingly, statements from Moscow regarding the Baltic region are being viewed with great interest.
On Monday, the Russian state news agency TASS disseminated claims made by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The report alleges a decision by the Baltic states to open their airspace to Ukrainian attack drones. No such decision has been substantiated. Latvia accused Russia of a disinformation campaign in this context after errant Ukrainian drones entered Baltic airspace and crashed at the end of March.
Nevertheless, TASS reports that Moscow has already issued a warning to the Baltic states. The Foreign Ministry is threatening “retaliatory measures” if this warning is ignored.
Russian politicians then weighed in, echoing the Ministry spokesperson’s sentiments. MP Alexei Chepa stated that this warning should be the “last” before Russia shoots down drones over the Baltic states or takes action in violation of international law, international agreements, and the United Nations. MP Mikhail Sheremet expressed a similar view.
Of course, the Europeans are the warmongers.
The stakes are high for Vladimir Putin in the Hungarian elections. A team from the Russian military intelligence service is tasked with securing Viktor Orbán’s re-election. The campaign is more ruthless than ever.
Moscow is said to have dispatched specially trained personnel to Budapest for this purpose. As Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi reported on the news portal “VSquare” in early March, a team of experts from the GRU military intelligence service, led by Putin confidant Sergei Kiriyenko, is reportedly supporting Viktor Orbán’s campaign directly from the Russian embassy in Budapest. Panyi cites sources within European intelligence agencies. Orbán is primarily relying on creating enemies abroad, inciting hatred against the European Union, spreading fear of war, and manipulating voters. Just this week, US Vice President JD Vance came to his aid in disseminating these scapegoats with a visit in the midst of the election campaign.
For Putin, however, the support of his most important confidant in the EU is at least as crucial. In recent years, Orbán has become increasingly aligned with the Kremlin. Moscow provided political backing, business opportunities, and cheap raw materials. Budapest reciprocated with blockades within the EU and the repetition of de facto Kremlin narratives. But now, Orbán’s Fidesz party government has been racking up losses for months.
Russian experts are therefore conducting a professionalized social media and disinformation campaign in favor of Fidesz. The primary focus of Orbán’s election campaign is not his rival, Péter Magyar. In speeches and on posters displayed throughout the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is primarily vilified as a warmonger who wants to draw Hungary into a conflict with Russia.
Orbán portrays his actual rival, opposition politician Péter Magyar, as a henchman of Kyiv. Hungarians, he claims, have a choice between “war and peace.” Next to the picture of the laughing Ukrainian president, the caption reads: “Don’t let Zelenskyy have the last laugh.” Putin’s disinformation machine had previously used a similar campaign against the re-election of Moldova’s Russia-critical president Maia Sandu — albeit unsuccessfully.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni distanced herself from U.S. President Donald Trump during a speech in parliament on Thursday, trying to hold on to her position after his painful defeat in last month’s referendum, writes Politico.
“The West stands on two pillars: the European and the American. If they move in different directions, it threatens paralysis,” Meloni said, adding that she continues to “believe in the need to work to keep the West united.”
The speech came after the government lost a referendum on judicial reform – seen by many as a vote of confidence for Meloni herself. Her allies attributed the defeat to rising energy prices due to the war with Iran, as well as her closeness to Trump, who is increasingly seen as a toxic figure even among the right.
The center-right prime minister publicly noted differences with the American leader for the first time since Trump’s re-election in 2024.
“As it is between allies, we must speak clearly even when we disagree,” Meloni said in parliament.
She cited examples where her government, she said, had disagreed with the White House, from a customs policy “that we have repeatedly called a wrong decision,” to defending “the honor of our military in Afghanistan, which has been called unnecessary,” as well as supporting the territorial integrity of Greenland with European allies.
The Italian leader also described the war with Iran as a military operation that Italy neither agreed with nor participated in… “which was particularly clear in the case of Sigonella.” At issue – for the first time publicly – is Italy’s decision to refuse to allow a U.S. military plane to land at Sigonella airbase in Sicily before flying to the Middle East.
Meloni’s remarks on Thursday were an apparent turn in rhetoric regarding an alliance with Trump – who has low popularity in Italy – compared to a softer stance earlier this year.
The soaring energy prices associated with the conflict in the Middle East are becoming a major political issue.
Reuters reports Russia will never abandon or betray Cuba and plans to help the Communist island tackle energy issues linked to a U.S. embargo, a Russian deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying early on Friday after talks in Havana.
Sergei Ryabkov, quoted by Russian news agencies at a news conference in the Cuban capital, also said Moscow had no intention of walking away from its interests in the Western hemisphere no matter what the United States might say.
Who is Orban actually supporting here? Logically, both are impossible! But for Orban, both are the greatest peacemakers in the world. It’s probably irrelevant, since these aren’t the only contradictions. They’re pretending they haven’t heard anything.
Reuters reports China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said North Korea has made remarkable accomplishments despite conspiracies by the United States and Western forces to oppress and isolate Pyongyang, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported on Friday.
Didn’t I post here recently that Trump said North Korea loves him and speaks only well of him? In my opinion, a lunatic couldn’t be further from reality.