Politics · Other · 3 hrs ago
Hungary opens communist-era secret police files to public
Hungary has opened tens of thousands of communist-era secret police files in a public online database.
The records cover the informer network used to spy on people during decades of one-party rule, which ended in 1989.
About 60,000 names are now public, and anyone can search the database; previously, ordinary people generally could see only records about themselves or close relatives.
An estimated 150,000 to 160,000 people were recruited as informers between 1944 and 1990, and some were pressured or blackmailed into helping.
Historians warn that names alone may not show why someone became an informer or what they did, so the files could be misunderstood.
The records are incomplete because many were destroyed, and another batch is due by February 2027.
Hungary opened an online database of tens of thousands of Communist-era secret police files to the public on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar said about 60,000 names had been made public.
The files document an informer network used to spy on citizens during decades of one-party rule.
More files are expected to be uploaded, but the records are incomplete because many were destroyed.
Supporters describe access to the records as a citizens’ right, while critics warn that names without context may mislead the public.
- Who
- The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, released the files. Anyone can search the database.
- What
- Tens of thousands of Communist-era secret police files were made publicly searchable online.
- When
- Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Hungary; the records are available in an online database.
- Why
- Magyar said the release fulfils a promise to make the records public and helps Hungarians confront the country’s totalitarian past.
Supporters of full public access
Critics of publishing informer names
Access to records
Supporters of full public access
Krisztian Ungváry says citizens have a right to information the state holds about them.
Critics of publishing informer names
Zsuzsanna Borvendég says publishing names without full context about recruitment and activities risks misleading the public.
Understanding the files
Supporters of full public access
Magyar said discussion and questions are needed to process the trauma the records may bring to families.
Critics of publishing informer names
Critics warn that people may judge those named without understanding the circumstances behind their recruitment.
Many secret police files were destroyed during Hungary’s anti-Soviet uprising.
More files were destroyed.
Hungary opened an online database of secret police files to public searches.
Additional files are expected to be uploaded.
- Names made public
- About 60,000
- Estimated informers
- 150,000-160,000 recruited between December 1944 and February 1990
- Database access
- Anyone can search for names linked to the former state security services
- Further files
- Additional records expected by February 2027
4 sources
What people are saying
We are implementing now, after 36 years ... what was the promise of the change of regime
I ask everyone to treat this long overdue publication of documents with dignity and humanity ... as many families will now face difficult information often related to a deceased member of their family ... It is impossible to process a trauma without discussion and asking questions
In the overwhelming majority of surviving agent reports, it isn't even possible to identify the agent, let alone their motives