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Interior Minister: Hungary’s National Security Service has not been involved in illegal surveillance

Government organizations and independent organizations regularly check the state bodies authorized to use the instruments of covert surveillance.

Interior Minister Sándor Pintér said that since May 29, 2010, Hungary’s National Security Service has not been involved in illegal surveillance.

In a response to a question by independent MP Bernadett Szél, Pintér said that this was confirmed by the results of audits carried out. He added that he was ready to answer all further questions by Szél at a meeting of parliament’s national security committee to be held behind closed doors. 

Szél submitted the following question to the interior minister: “Who has purchased Israeli spy software and which interior affairs or national security organizations participated in illegal surveillance?” Minister Pintér said in response that Hungary was a democratic country based on the rule of law and as such, it has acted in keeping with current laws in the case of each individual. Government organizations and independent organizations regularly check the state bodies authorized to use the instruments of covert surveillance, he added.