Hungary’s National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information has ordered a government office to release records related to a recent inspection of the Samsung SDI battery plant in Göd, following a request from a member of parliament. The dispute centers on concerns about potential environmental and health risks associated with the factory’s operations.
The request for the inspection records was initially made by Bence Tordai, who sought to review the findings of a site visit conducted on March 4, 2025. The Pest County Government Office denied his request, prompting Tordai to appeal to the data protection authority.
The authority ruled that the government office had violated Tordai’s right to access information of public interest and has directed them to immediately provide the inspection records, along with confirmation of compliance within 30 days.
The government office received the order on February 9 and the process is ongoing. Tordai may pursue the matter in court if the documents are not released. The authority likewise revealed it has been conducting its own monitoring procedure since May 2025 regarding the government office’s practice of denying access to environmental information, though that review is still underway.
The appearance of the spot from 2022 to 2024 – Source: Google Earth
Concerns about toxic dust emanating from the Samsung plant in Göd are at the center of the dispute. More details about the potential health risks can be found in a separate report. A recent investigative report revealed that in the spring of 2023, a classified intelligence report circulated among government ministers detailing potentially severe exposures to hazardous materials within the battery factory. One employee was reportedly exposed to a carcinogenic chemical at 510 times the permissible limit. During a government meeting at the time, several ministers, including Antal Rogán, advocated for suspending operations at the plant, while Péter Szijjártó lobbied against closure. Szijjártó later denounced the report as false and announced plans to file a complaint against the news outlet.
