Budapest Pride returns, but the surveillance state remains

While the police have formally recognized this year's march—a stark contrast to the hostility of the past—the legal framework designed to criminalize participation persists. In March 2025, the Orbán government rushed through amendments that classified Pride attendance as a minor offense and expanded the use of facial recognition technology. Although the new Tisza government has publicly embraced the LGBTQIA+ community, it has yet to dismantle the legislative machinery that allows authorities to track and record protesters in real time.

Civil society organizations are now pushing for the immediate repeal of these amendments, arguing that the surveillance apparatus directly conflicts with the European Union’s AI Act. Legal experts contend that the Hungarian system, which uses mobile biometric cameras to monitor public gatherings, creates a chilling effect on democratic assembly. Despite clear prohibitions in the EU AI Act against mass, real-time biometric identification in public spaces, the European Commission has remained opaque regarding its assessment of Hungary's compliance. Without decisive action from both the national government to strike down these laws and the EU to enforce its own standards, the promise of freedom remains precarious. The current situation demands more than symbolic support; it requires the systematic removal of tools designed to silence dissent through digital intimidation.