Yes, web scraping is legal in Hungary under specific conditions, but it must comply with EU and Hungarian data protection laws. Publicly accessible data can be scraped unless protected by copyright or privacy rights. The National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) enforces GDPR and the Hungarian Civil Code, which restrict scraping personal or proprietary data without consent. Businesses must ensure transparency, lawful basis, and data minimization to avoid penalties.
Key Regulations for Web Scraping in Hungary
- GDPR Compliance: Scraping personal data requires a lawful basis (e.g., legitimate interest) and strict adherence to Articles 5–6 of the GDPR. The NAIH actively monitors violations, with fines up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover.
- Copyright Law (Act LXXVI of 1999): Automated extraction of copyrighted content (e.g., articles, images) without permission constitutes infringement. Courts have ruled against scrapers targeting paywalled or proprietary databases.
- Hungarian Civil Code (Act V of 2013): Unauthorized scraping of non-public or commercially sensitive data may breach trade secret protections (Section 2:48). Businesses must avoid disrupting website operations or breaching terms of service.
Recent 2026 amendments to the Electronic Commerce Act (Act CVIII of 2001) introduce stricter anti-bot provisions, requiring scrapers to disclose automated access methods to website operators. Failure to comply risks temporary injunctions or liability under unfair competition laws. Always conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for large-scale scraping projects to mitigate regulatory exposure.