HUNGARY MULLS SANCTIONS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS

Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga, pictured, on Monday raised the prospect of sanctioning social media firms over what she called “systematic abuses” of free speech. The minister said she would meet the Hungarian competition watchdog this week to discuss possible penalties for what she described as unfair commercial practices as well as convening a meeting of the country’s digital freedom committee. In a growing wave of criticism, some government officials are complaining about what they have described as efforts by social media companies, including Facebook, to limit conservative views on their platforms. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has turned Hungary’s public media into an obedient mouthpiece and allies control large parts of the private media, allowing his agenda to be aired prominently.