Hungary: News Aggregator Owner Admits Suppressing Right-Wing Content
Hungary's leading news aggregator CEO admitted to manipulating algorithms for nearly four years to suppress conservative content and boost opposition media before elections.
Gábor Holló, who runs Hírkereső—a name that translates to “Newsfinder”—made the startling admission during an interview with liberal outlet HVG, as The European Conservative reports.
Holló revealed that he used his control over the site’s news-ranking algorithms to deliberately reduce the visibility of pro-Fidesz material while simultaneously amplifying opposition voices. The manipulation was carried out gradually to avoid detection, he explained.
According to his own account, Holló did not eliminate the reach of what he called propaganda materials all at once. Instead, he reduced their algorithmic weight by half a percent each week in incremental steps, while at the same time increasing the prominence of independent media outlets. This process continued for approximately 200 weeks, beginning in 2022.
Holló defended his actions by arguing that content producers with contracts cannot pursue legal action because those agreements only obligate him to display their news, not to distribute traffic equally. He asserted that since the vast majority of news traffic originates from algorithmic rankings, regulating those rankings falls exclusively within his authority.
The tech executive also admitted to fearing exposure throughout the manipulation campaign. He acknowledged that traces of the interference exist in the platform’s code and that a sufficiently skilled investigator could have uncovered the scheme.
Beyond algorithmic manipulation, Holló disclosed financial support for the opposition Tisza Party totaling just over 50 million Hungarian forints—approximately 142,000 euros—primarily spent on commissioning opinion polls.
He further revealed that starting in June 2024, he provided free news traffic to the website Kontroll.hu through his media properties. Kontroll.hu is notably headed by the brother of Hungary’s current prime minister, according to The European Conservative.
The confession raises serious questions about media neutrality and electoral integrity in Hungary, particularly given Hírkereső’s position as a dominant news aggregation platform. Holló’s candid remarks suggest a deliberate, coordinated effort to shape public opinion through covert manipulation of information distribution during a critical electoral period.
The case also echoes broader concerns about the role of tech platforms in democratic processes, as major technology companies worldwide face increasing scrutiny over content moderation practices and algorithmic transparency.
With information from The European Conservative
