Amnesty International has criticized Meta Platforms Inc. for allegedly failing to effectively enforce its content moderation policies against anti-LGBTI hate speech on Facebook in Hungary. The organization claimed that the platform prioritized user engagement over the safety of marginalized communities, contributing to harmful human rights impacts experienced by Hungarian LGBTI individuals. Daniela Schnidrig, from Amnesty’s Big Tech Accountability Team, highlighted that risks to these communities were well known, yet Meta did not take sufficient action to prevent the ensuing harm, as detailed in an article from JURIST.
Amnesty’s investigation revealed that Meta inadequately applied its moderation policies, letting damaging rhetoric persist on the platform even after it was reported. The organization’s findings suggest that Meta did not adequately assess the risks posed by changes to its global content policies for Hungary’s LGBTI community, despite being aware of the country’s hostile political environment.
Facebook’s significant influence in Hungary’s information landscape, reaching over half the population, further compounds the issue. Many LGBTI Hungarians felt trapped on the platform despite facing hostility, as its central role in social and professional life left them few alternatives. The situation has prompted concerns about Meta’s responsibility to safeguard users’ rights to freedom of expression and non-discrimination.
Eszter Mihály, LGBTI rights officer at Amnesty International Hungary, emphasized that the community has faced intense smear campaigns and oppressive laws from the Orbán government. This legislative backdrop, coupled with their inability to express themselves freely on Meta’s platforms, exacerbated their distress. Additionally, representatives from the Hungarian advocacy group Háttér Society have provided examples of harmful Facebook content, ranging from dehumanizing language to incitements of violence against LGBTI individuals.
The European Union’s Digital Services Act obliges large online platforms, including Facebook, to identify and mitigate systemic risks linked to platform design. This is to ensure that their products do not contribute to human rights abuses, a requirement that includes analysis of risks to fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and implementing measures when these risks are identified.
This development is part of broader measures targeting Hungary’s LGBTI community, including recent police bans on Pride assemblies. Although organizers have challenged these bans, with some success in the Supreme Court, such legal victories underscore the ongoing challenge posed by recent constitutional changes and proposed legislation equating LGBTI expression with inappropriate content. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has already ruled against a 2021 Hungarian law violating EU rules on non-discrimination, emphasizing the tension between national and European regulations.