According to Politico, based on investigations by Direkt36 and De Tijd, Hungarian intelligence services conducted espionage activities against representatives of the European Union who visited the country on official visits from 2015 to 2017.
Surveillance Targets: Officials under Scrutiny
From 2015 to 2017, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigated the activities of a company linked to the son-in-law of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. During these investigations, Hungarian intelligence services not only accompanied delegations during their visits but also wiretapped phone conversations of officials.
Common Surveillance Methods
According to the report, the Hungarian Intelligence Service (IH) systematically checked hotel room numbers where EU representatives stayed and hacked their electronic devices to download confidential information. This practice, as indicated in the report, was a standard procedure for Hungarian intelligence services.
Hungarian Government’s Response
In response to the allegations, Viktor Orban’s press service stated: “We do not comment on fake news.” Nevertheless, Hungary has not been unfamiliar with espionage scandals.
For instance, in 2021, the government admitted to using Israeli spyware to surveil journalists, opposition members, and activists. In 2023, a Member of the European Parliament, openly critical of Orban, became a victim of a cyberattack.
Reputation Implications
The actions of Hungarian intelligence services are causing significant concern among EU countries, as such incidents raise doubts about the security of diplomatic missions. Additionally, this could affect Hungary’s relations with other EU members.
