Hungary

[HU] Safe mobile internet access for minors

IRIS 2026-1:1/2

Gábor Polyák

Mertek Media Monitor, Hungary

On 1 January 2026, Hungarian mobile operators Magyar Telekom, One Magyarország and Yettel Magyarország launched safe mobile internet access for minors. The new service, which is available free of charge to individual subscribers, prevents children from visiting Hungary's most popular pornographic websites on the mobile network.

In May 2025, the Nemzeti Média- és Hírközlési Hatóság (National Media and Infocommunications Authority, NMHH) issued Decree 7/2025 on detailed rules relating to the secure service provided for minors. It was empowered to do so by the 2024 amendment to Act C of 2003 on electronic communications. According to the decree, the NMHH president must compile a list of the 1 000 most frequently visited websites in Hungary that are specifically intended to display pornographic content, make it available to service providers in machine-readable form and include fully specified domain names. When providing mobile internet access services, service providers must block access to the listed websites to provide a safe service for underage users. Service providers must operate an information website for the secure service and ensure that the current list is downloaded and that the data it contains is appropriately configured on the Domain Name System servers they use to provide internet access services on each working day.

The service is available to all subscribers. At the request of individual subscribers, service providers must provide filtering free of charge as part of their basic service. The request does not constitute a contract amendment and does not affect the expiration of fixed-term subscriber contracts.

Providers will introduce the filtered internet service gradually: mobile internet providers from 1 January 2026, fixed internet access providers with 10 000 or more subscribers from 1 May 2026, and internet access providers based in Hungary with fewer than 10 000 subscribers from 1 January 2027. For wired services, subscribers can choose between filtered and unfiltered internet at a single point of access.

The NMHH's primary strategic goal is to support safe internet use by minors and to strengthen protection against harmful online content. To this end, it operates the "Bűvösvölgy" Media Literacy Education Centres and the Internet Hotline, an online legal aid service available to anyone who has been a victim of internet abuse.