Blocking of access to LGBTQI+ content online
Háttér Society are preparing for litigation challenging the blocking of access to online LGBTQI+ content in Hungary. This relates to the adoption in 2021 of legislation that bans access of minors to content featuring or promoting homosexuality and trans identities. Háttér Society have evidence that public internet access points such as universities, libraries, and public transportation companies, as well as employers, restrict access to LGBTQI+ content including the websites of LGBTQI+ organisations. They will further map and gather evidence of this censorship and identify those who can be targeted with litigation.
Blocking of access to LGBTQI+ content online
Organisation Name
Háttér Society
Country/Jurisdiction
Hungary
Amount Granted
EUR 25,000
Current Status
Research complete
Image credit: Franco Atkins on Pexels
Grant type
Pre-litigation Research Support
Description
Háttér Society is preparing for litigation challenging the blocking of access to online LGBTQI+ content in Hungary. This relates to the adoption in 2021 of legislation that bans access of minors to content featuring or promoting homosexuality and trans identities. Háttér Society has evidence that public internet access points such as universities, libraries, and public transportation companies, as well as employers, restrict access to LGBTQI+ content including the websites of LGBTQI+ organisations.
During the pre-litigation stage, they further mapped and gathered evidence of this censorship and identified those who can be targeted with litigation.
Háttér Society confirmed their hypothesis that internet network providers performing content filtering block LGBTQI websites at a higher rate than other websites, including those far-right websites publishing content inciting hatred and exclusion. They identified over 50 cases of discriminatory filtering, some of which are being investigated by the National Data Protection and Information Freedom Authority.
"public internet access points such as universities, libraries, and public transportation companies, as well as employers, restrict access to LGBTQI+ content including the websites of LGBTQI+ organisations"
Strategic Goal
1. Challenge the discriminatory application of legislation beyond its intended use.
2. Secure non-discriminatory access to LGBTQI+ content in online spaces.
3. Raise awareness of LGBTQI+ people to discrimination in online spaces, fostering a watchdog mentality in the LGBTQI+ community.