Hibavédelem

Hibavédelem, also known as "data protection" or "privacy protection," refers to the measures taken to safeguard personal and sensitive information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. In Hungary, the concept is governed by a combination of national laws and European Union regulations, primarily the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was adopted in 2018 to standardize data privacy laws across EU member states.

The foundation of Hungarian data protection law is the **Personal Data Protection Act (2011, amended in 2018)**, which aligns with GDPR principles. This legislation applies to both public and private entities processing personal data, including names, email addresses, financial information, and biometric data. Key obligations under the law include obtaining explicit consent for data collection, ensuring data accuracy, limiting data retention to necessary periods, and granting individuals the right to access, correct, or delete their personal information.

Organizations handling personal data must appoint a data protection officer (DPO) if their core activities involve large-scale processing of sensitive data or monitoring of individuals. The National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) oversees compliance, investigating breaches and imposing fines for violations, which can reach up to 4% of an organization’s global annual revenue or €20 million, whichever is greater.

Public awareness of hibavédelem has grown due to high-profile data breaches and increased scrutiny over digital privacy. Citizens are encouraged to review privacy policies, use strong encryption, and exercise their rights under the law, such as requesting data erasure or restricting processing. Additionally, businesses are advised to implement technical safeguards like encryption, anonymization, and secure data storage to mitigate risks.

While hibavédelem strengthens individual rights, it also presents challenges for businesses in balancing compliance with operational efficiency. Ongoing education and adaptation to evolving digital threats remain essential to maintaining robust data protection in Hungary.