{{short description|Hungarian news portal}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox website | name = Origo | logo = Origo logo új.png | type = Internet entertainment and news | language = Hungarian | owner = Central European Press and Media Foundation | url = {{URL|origo.hu}} | commercial = Yes | launch_date = 1 December 1998 | oclc = 806226699 }} {{conservatism in Hungary|Media}}
'''Origo''', stylised as '''ORIGO''' and previously as '''[origo]''', is a major Hungarian-language news website founded in 1998 by telecommunications company MATÁV. Into the 21st century, Origo soon became one of the most popular and visited news websites in Hungary. Until 2018, when it was acquired by the Central European Press and Media Foundation (KESMA) after receiving pressure by Viktor Orbán's government in the previous years and under New Wave Media ownership that also attracted criticism, its original balanced, independent, and reliable reporting shifted into a pro-Orbán, pro-Fidesz, and anti-immigration tone. As a result, Origo attracted international criticism, with critics describing it as a state-run propaganda and pro-Russian outlet.
== History == === Foundation and early years (1998–2001) === Four former ''Magyar Narancs'' employees, namely Péter Nádori, Ferenc Pohly, György Simó, and Balázs Weyer,<ref name="np_mediatortenet">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediatortenet.hu/2016/03/21/nadoripeter/|title="Akkor még azt is kattintották, hogy valaki szőkíti az olajat" - Interjú Nádori Péterrel|website=mediatortenet.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2016-03-21|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> decided to start an online news website. After contacting other media publishers such as ''Népszabadság'',<ref name="up_mediatortenet">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediatortenet.hu/2016/03/21/ujpeter/|title="Soha nem voltunk része az újságírói szakmának" – Interjú Uj Péterrel|website=meditatortenet.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2016-03-21|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> they were eventually given funds for the website by Magyar Telekom (then called MATÁV) in order to popularise internet subscriptions in Hungary. Preparations for the website began in May 1997, and it was eventually launched a year later, in December 1998.<ref name="np_mediatortenet"/>
Although Origo only had one real competitor at the time, Index.hu (then called Internetto), its initial readership was underwhelming due to structural issues with the website.<ref name="gg1">{{cite web|url=https://gg.blog.hu/2012/06/15/tjtgj|title=Mit ér a portál, ha magyar?|last=Gerényi|first=Gábor|website=Gg.blog.hu|language=hu|date=2012-06-15|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><!-- Not a random blog, Gerényi was a key figure during the early days of Index and Internetto --> This soon changed as MATÁV's resources were not as limited as Internetto's,<ref name="gg1"/> and they also owned the biggest Hungarian search engine at the time, the Altavista-based AltaVizsla.<ref name="altavizsla">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20000620megujult.html|title=Megújult az AltaVizsla kereső|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2000-06-20|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> They also purchased email provider freemail.hu, further boosting their popularity as Origo were now able to offer a complete news, search engine, and email package, something Index were unable to do.<ref name="gg2">{{cite web|url=https://gg.blog.hu/2012/08/03/hirtelen_halal_594|title=Hirtelen halál|last=Gerényi|first=Gábor|language=Hungarian|date=2012-08-03|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> In 2000, Nádori was replaced by Weyer as Origo's editor-in-chief.<ref name="delmagyar">{{cite web|url=https://www.delmagyar.hu/belfold_hirek/tavozik_az_origo_foszerkesztoje_weyer_balazs/2242567/|title=Távozik az Origo főszerkesztője Weyer Balázs|website=delmagyar.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2011-09-29|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref>
=== Rise as the most popular news site in Hungary (2001–2010) === Origo's financial strength meant that they were able to cover the September 11 attacks without any server problems, while Index was constantly struggling with outages. This cemented Origo's position as the most popular news site in Hungary for years to come.<ref name="gg3">{{cite web|url=https://gg.blog.hu/2012/11/05/betemet_a_dotkomvalsag|title=Betemet a dotkomválság|last=Gerényi|first=Gábor|language=Hungarian|date=2012-11-05|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> In 2006, Origo's owners, Magyar Telekom (then called T-Online), announced that they were purchasing iWiW, Hungary's largest social media site at the time.<ref name="iwiw">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/techbazis/20060430iwiw.html|title=Nagy a visszhangja az iWiW eladásának|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2006-04-30|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> This allowed for some level of integration between Origo and iWiW, especially after they transferred iWiW over to Origo.<ref name="antropos">{{cite web|url=https://antropos.hu/az-iwiw-sztori/|title=Az iWiW sztori|language=Hungarian|date=2009-01-20|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> They also purchased blogging service Blogter.hu, a competitor to Index's blog.hu.<ref name="blogter">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/techbazis/20060616bloggal.html|title=Bloggal bővít a T-Online|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2006-06-16|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> In 2009, Origo's frontpage was redesigned.<ref name="cimlap">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/post-it/blog/20090902-uj-origo-cimlap-1.html|title=Megújul az [origo] címlapja|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2009-09-02|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
=== Pressures by the Orban government (2010–2015) === In 2010, former Index employee Miklós Vaszily became Origo's new CEO.<ref name="vaszily">{{cite web|url=https://itcafe.hu/hir/origo_zrt_vaszily_miklos_novak_peter.html|title=Az Index volt vezére irányítja az Origót|language=Hungarian|website=itcafe.hu|date=2010-01-22|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> Vaszily was tasked with making the company profitable.<ref name="gazdacink">{{cite web|url=https://cink.hu/az-origo-es-en-1625571897/+albertgazda|title=Az Origo és én|last=Gazda|first=Albert|website=cink.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-08-22|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> Several other former Index employees also joined the website around this time. In 2011, editor-in-chief Balázs Weyer left the company,<ref name="weyer">{{cite web|url=https://index.hu/kultur/media/2011/09/29/tavozik_az_origo_foszerkesztoje/|title=Távoznak az Origo vezetői|website=index.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2011-09-29|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> and he was eventually replaced by Index's Albert Gazda.<ref name="gazda">{{cite web|url=https://kreativ.hu/media/cikk/gazdara_talalt_az_origo|title=Gazdára talált az Origo|publisher=Kreatív Online|language=Hungarian|date=2011-10-21|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref> Under his tenure, Origo went through another design change,<ref name="gazda2">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20130924-tavozik-gazda-albert-az-origo-foszerkesztoje.html|title=Távozik az Origo főszerkesztője|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2013-09-24|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> with the help of Péter Uj, Index's co-founder and former editor-in-chief.<ref name="ujorigo">{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/itthon/20121113_uj_peter_origo|title=Uj Péter beszáll az Origo átalakításába|language=Hungarian|website=hvg.hu|date=2012-11-13|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> In 2013, Gazda was replaced by Gergő Sáling,<ref name="salingin">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20131105-saling-gergo-az-origo-uj-foszerkesztoje.html?sec-2|title=Megvan az Origo főszerkesztője|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2013-11-05|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> after he resigned.<ref name="gazda2"/> Gazda later claimed that he resigned after political figures had started pressuring Origo around that time.<ref name="gazdacink"/> Around this time, officials from the Hungarian government reportedly initiated meetings with Magyar Telekom executives in order to pressure the company to take a more pro-government stance.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="444pressure">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2014/06/05/a-telekom-mar-tavaly-atengedte-az-origot-a-kormanynak/|title=A Telekom már tavaly átengedte az Origót a kormánynak|website=444.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-06-05|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
Sáling did not last long at the company as he was fired in June 2014. Although Origo officially cited the "adapting to the changing ways of media consumption" as the reason of his firing,<ref name="salingf">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20140603-uj-foszerkeszto-az-origo-hu-elen.html|title=Új főszerkesztő az Origo.hu élén|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-06-03|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> many were sceptical of this reasoning, citing the lawsuit of Sáling's deputy András Pethő against Fidesz official János Lázár as the cause of his departure.<ref name="444saling">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2014/08/22/politikai-okokbol-kellett-tavoznia-az-origo-foszerkesztojenek-allitja-egykori-helyettese|title=Politikai okokból kellett távoznia az Origo főszerkesztőjének, állítja egykori helyettese|last=Magyari|first=Péter|website=444.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-08-22|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="hvgfigyelo">{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/gazdasag/20140612_A_Fideszben_bekattant_hogy_az_Origo_beper|title=Figyelő: A Fideszben bekattant, hogy az Origo beperelte a kormányt|website=hvg.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-06-12|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="nyt"/> This was corroborated by accounts from Pethő,<ref name="444saling"/> as well as Sáling's predecessor Albert Gazda.<ref name="gazdacink"/> Sáling's firing also lead to the departure of many other journalists and editors of Origo, including everyone working for the "Origo News" section of the website.<ref name="origohirek">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2014/06/05/vege-az-origo-hirek-rovatanak|title=Vége az Origo Hírek rovatának|first=Gergő|last=Plankó|website=444.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2014-06-05|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> The new editor-in-chief after Sáling's departure was Ákos Pálmai.<ref name="salingf"/>
=== New Wave Media (2015–2018) === In 2015, Magyar Telekom announced that they were selling Origo after their parent company Deutsche Telekom had started getting rid of its media interests. The eventual buyers were New Wave Media, who also owned vs.hu at the time.<ref name="nwm">{{cite web|url=https://24.hu/media/2016/02/08/lezarult-az-origo-eladasa-megszolalt-az-uj-vezerigazgato/|title=Lezárult az Origo eladása, megszólalt az új vezérigazgató|website=24.hu|last=Szalay|first=Dániel|language=Hungarian|date=2016-02-08|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> After the transaction, Pálmay was replaced by Bence György as the website's editor-in-chief,<ref name="gyorgy">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2016/03/17/gyorgy-bence-az-origo-uj-foszerkesztoje|title=György Bence az Origo új főszerkesztője|website=444.hu|language=Hungarian|last=Rényi|first=Pál Dániel|date=2016-03-17|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> who stayed in his position until September 2017,<ref name="gyorgyle">{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/itthon/20170921_tavozik_az_origotol_a_tartalomigazgato|title=Távozik György Bence, az Origo tartalomigazgatója|website=hvg.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2017-09-21|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> when he was replaced by László Gábor.<ref name="laszlo">{{cite web|url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20170921-gabor-laszlo-az-origo-foszerkesztoje.html|title=Gábor László az Origo főszerkesztője|website=origo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2017-09-21|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> In 2017, it was announced that New Wave Media was purchased by Ádám Matolcsy, the son of György Matolcsy who is the governor of the Hungarian National Bank and a Fidesz member.<ref name="matolcsy">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2017/06/28/matolcsy-fia-megvette-az-origot|title=Matolcsy fia megvette az Origót|last=Kasnyik|first=Márton|website=444.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2017-06-28|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> Although Matolcsy had denied that Origo would be used for the purposes of propaganda,<ref name="matpropag">{{cite web|url=https://24.hu/belfold/2017/06/28/matolcsy-adam-az-origot-en-nem-tartom-propagandaoldalnak/|title=Matolcsy Ádám: Az Origót én nem tartom propagandaoldalnak|website=24.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2017-06-28|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> the website began uncritically supporting Orbán's anti-immigration campaign,<ref name="nepszavafake">{{cite web|url=https://nepszava.hu/3031246_braziliaban-keszult-keppel-illusztralta-az-origo-a-nagy-britanniai-migranspoklot|title=Brazíliában készült képpel illusztrálta az Origo a nagy-britanniai migránspoklot |website=nepszava.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2019-04-02|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> as well as regularly publishing fake news targeted against opposition politicians,<ref name="vona">{{cite web|url=https://magyarnemzet.hu/archivum/belfold-archivum/pert-vesztett-az-origo-fizethet-a-vonarol-szolo-cikke-miatt-3877362/|title=Pert vesztett az Origo, fizethet a Vonáról szóló cikke miatt|website=magyarnemzet.hu|last=Koncz|first=Tamás|date=2017-05-31|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="mancsfake">{{cite web|url=https://magyarnarancs.hu/feketelyuk/a-birosag-kimondta-harom-dologban-is-hazudott-az-origo-czegledy-csabarol-119060/|title=Döntött a bíróság: három dologban is hazudott az Origo Czeglédy Csabával kapcsolatban|website=magyarnarancs.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2019-04-18|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="merce">{{cite web|url=https://merce.hu/2019/02/24/keso-ejjel-jelent-meg-helyreigazitas-az-origon-juhasz-peterrol-gyorsan-le-is-vettek-fooldalrol/|title=Késő éjjel jelent meg helyreigazítás az Origón Juhász Péterről, gyorsan le is vették főoldalról|website=merce.hu|language=Hungarian|last=Bernáth|first=Lackó|date=2019-02-24|access-date=2019-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226172659/https://merce.hu/2019/02/24/keso-ejjel-jelent-meg-helyreigazitas-az-origon-juhasz-peterrol-gyorsan-le-is-vettek-fooldalrol/|archive-date=2019-02-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> which also resulted in Origo losing several lawsuits.<ref name="indexhelyre">{{cite web|url=https://index.hu/belfold/2018/08/27/fidesz_media_helyreigazitas|title=Beismertek néhány súlyos hazugságot|website=index.hu|last=Fábián|first=Tamás|language=Hungarian|date=2018-08-27|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="atlatszo18">{{cite web|url=https://atlatszo.hu/2018/03/24/53-helyreigazitasi-pert-vesztett-tavaly-a-kormanykozeli-media-sokkal-tobbet-mint-egy-evvel-korabban/|title=53 helyreigazítási pert vesztett tavaly a kormányközeli média, sokkal többet mint egy évvel korábban|website=atlatszo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2018-03-24|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref name="atlatszo19">{{cite web|url=https://atlatszo.hu/2019/02/07/109-helyreigazitasi-pert-vesztett-2018-ban-a-kormanykozeli-media/|title=109 helyreigazítási pert vesztett 2018-ban a kormányközeli média|last=Erdélyi|first=Katalin|website=atlatszo.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2019-02-07|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
=== KESMA (2018–present) === In 2018, Origo and the majority of Fidesz-related media became the property of a media foundation called KESMA.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 May 2024 |title=The rise of KESMA: How Orbán's allies bought up Hungary's media |url=https://ipi.media/the-rise-of-kesma-how-orbans-allies-bought-up-hungarys-media/ |access-date=17 October 2025 |publisher=International Press Institute}}</ref> Origo was the third most visited Hungarian website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ite.hu/legnezettebb-hazai-weboldalak-rangsora/|title=A legnézettebb hazai weboldalak rangsora 2018|last=Szuhi|first=Attila|language=Hungarian|website=ite.hu|date=2018-10-17|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Until this time, when it shifted to pro-Orbanism, Origo was for known its balanced reporting.<ref name="Ishikawa 2025">{{cite web |last=Ishikawa |first=Yusuke |date=20 November 2024 |title=Chapter 1 Hungary: Media Control and Disinformation |url=https://instituteofgeoeconomics.org/en/research/2024112001-1/ |access-date=17 October 2025 |publisher=Institute of Geoeconomics}}</ref> As a result of the acquisition, it began supporting the anti-immigration campaign of the governing parties and reported fake news on several occasions,<ref>{{cite news|last=Druckerman|first=Pamela|date=2018-11-01|title=Opinion {{!}} The News Is Bad in Hungary (Published 2018)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/opinion/hungary-viktor-orban-press-freedom.html|access-date=2021-02-11|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and has also falsified foreign news in order to make a negative statement.<ref>{{cite web|last=László|first=Szily|date=2018-03-01|title=A metróba vizelő párizsi migránsnak hazudja az Origo a 2015-ben lefotózott New York-i utast|url=https://444.hu/2018/03/01/a-metroba-vizelo-parizsi-migransnak-hazudja-az-origo-a-2015-ben-lefotozott-new-york-i-utast|access-date=2021-02-11|website=444|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Haszán|first=Zoltán|date=2019-04-02|title=Annyira megváltoztatta Nagy-Britanniát a migráció, hogy az Origo kénytelen Brazíliában készült képpel illusztrálni az állapotokat|url=https://444.hu/2019/04/02/annyira-megvaltoztatta-nagy-britanniat-a-migracio-hogy-az-origo-kenytelen-braziliaban-keszult-keppel-illusztralni-az-allapotokat|access-date=2021-02-11|website=444|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2018-07-29|title=Az Origo akkor is migránsozással ad el egy hírt, ha az eredeti szövegben szó sincs ilyesmiről « Mérce|url=https://merce.hu/2018/07/29/az-origo-akkor-is-migransozassal-ad-el-egy-hirt-ha-az-eredeti-szovegben-szo-sincs-ilyesmirol/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Mérce|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zrt|first=HVG Kiadó|date=2018-08-06|title=Az Origo felháborodott, hogy Boateng már gyerekkorában is fekete volt|url=https://hvg.hu/gazdasag/20180806_Az_origo_felhaborodott_hogy_Boateng_mar_gyerekkoraban_is_fekete_volt|access-date=2021-02-11|website=hvg.hu|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Balázs|first=Flachner|date=2021-02-11|title=Nem, az arabok még mindig nem téptek szét egy karácsonyfát egy nyugati bevásárlóközpontban|url=https://index.hu/mindekozben/poszt/2019/12/10/nem_az_arabok_meg_mindig_nem_teptek_szet_egy_karacsonyfat_egy_nyugati_bevasarlokozpontban/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=index.hu|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bence|first=Horváth|date=2018-04-29|title=Afrikai migránsok támadásaként mutatott be az Origo egy prágai videót, amiről fél perc lett volna kideríteni a valóságot|url=https://444.hu/2018/04/29/afrikai-migransok-tamadasakent-mutatott-be-az-origo-egy-pragai-videot-amirol-fel-perc-lett-volna-kideriteni-a-valosagot|access-date=2021-02-15|website=444|language=hu}}</ref> Origo has also repeatedly claimed untruth about opposition politicians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Az Origo főszerkesztője nem tudta megmondani, ki írta a zaklatással vádoló cikküket|url=https://mediapiac.com/mediapiac/az-origo-foszerkesztoje-nem-tudta-megmondani-ki-irta-a-zaklatassal-vadolo-cikkuket/29629/|access-date=2021-02-11|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Pert nyert az Origo ellen az SZFE kommunikációs vezetője|url=https://szinhaz.online/pert-nyert-az-origo-ellen-az-szfe-kommunikacios-vezetoje/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Színház.online|language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hadházy Ákos pert nyert az Origo és a Ripost ellen|url=https://magyarnarancs.hu/belpol/hadhazy-akos-pert-nyert-az-origo-es-a-ripost-ellen-234531|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Magyarnarancs.hu|language=hu}}</ref>
In 2019, Google withdrew a grant given to New Wave Media, the publisher of Origo.<ref name="Bayer 2019">{{cite news |last=Bayer |first=Lily |date=3 April 2019 |title=Google pulls grant to Hungarian publisher over fake news allegations |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/google-withdraws-grant-to-hungary-news-site-over-fake-news-anti-semitism/ |access-date=17 October 2025 |work=Politico}}</ref> Hungarian courts ordered Origo to issue corrections in 34 cases in 2018, and Gábor Polyák, head of the Hungarian media watchdog Mérték Media Monitor, said that "Origo is an emblematic player of the Fidesz propaganda media" and that it was spreading "thousands of pieces of news about migrants in an extremely negative context and accompanied by false videos and photos".<ref name="Bayer 2019"/> Polyák further said that Origo was being financed by a "huge amount of public money" and that the decision of Google to grant funds to Origo's publisher could be interpreted as a "counterbalance" for the funding of independent media outlets.<ref name="Bayer 2019"/> A Google spokesperson said: "We recently made an initial offer of funding to a range of projects as part of the last round of our digital news innovation fund. After further review, we've decided not to go ahead with the grant to NWM."<ref name="Bayer 2019"/>
Origo supported the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign,<ref>{{cite web|last=Márk|first=Herczeg|date=2020-11-10|title=Maximális lojalitás: a köztévén még mindig nem nyert Biden, bizonytalanság van|url=https://444.hu/2020/11/10/maximalis-lojalitas-a-kozteven-meg-mindig-nem-nyert-biden-bizonytalansag-van|access-date=2021-02-11|website=444|language=hu}}</ref> and repeatedly claimed after the then incumbent President Trump's election defeat that the election had been rigged, with no evidence supporting the claim. Many of the allegations made by Origo in this regard later proved to be false. In January 2021, Origo blamed "the presidency of Joe Biden" for the January 6 United States Capitol attack, even though President Biden had not yet been inaugurated at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kitti |first=Fődi |date=2021-01-07 |title=Az Origó megint felállított egy alternatív valóságot, ezúttal a Capitolium megtámadásáról |url=https://444.hu/2021/01/07/az-origo-megint-felallitott-egy-alternativ-valosagot-ezuttal-a-capitolium-megtamadasarol |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=444 |language=hu}}</ref> During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Origo was criticised for spreading Russian propaganda and pro-Kremlin views.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-06-14 |title=Semlegesből oroszbarát: így torzult az Origo hangvétele az orosz-ukrán háború kitörése óta |url=https://www.lakmusz.hu/semlegesbol-oroszbarat-igy-torzult-az-origo-hangvetele-az-orosz-ukran-haboru-kitorese-ota/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Lakmusz |language=hu-HU}}</ref> For example, Origo aligned with the Orbán administration's narrative about the Russo-Ukrainian War, often using phrases like "Orbán wants peace".<ref name="Ishikawa 2025"/>
As a result of the government pressure in the 2010s and KESMA ownership, Origo was noted for shifting to the political right and for publishing softcore pornography openly and on the front page (often objectifying women in the process),<ref>{{cite web |last=Márk |first=Herczeg |date=2022-01-21 |title=A keresztény-konzervatív sajtó áll, mint a cövek, a szexi kormánypropaganda formás popsijáért sokan még egy verést is elfogadnának – képek |url=https://444.hu/2022/01/21/a-kereszteny-konzervativ-sajto-all-mint-a-covek-a-szexi-kormanypropaganda-formas-popsijaert-sokan-meg-egy-verest-is-elfogadnanak-kepek |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=444 |language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Az Origo címlapján most éppen 18-szor szerepelnek a meztelen, a mell és a szexi szavak |url=https://telex.hu/zacc/2022/12/19/origo-fidesz-propaganda-media-szex-mell-meztelen |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=telex.hu |language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=A gigantikus mellű sportolónő felkavarta a közösségi média állóvizét |url=https://www.origo.hu/sport/sport-laza/2024/12/gigantikus-mellu-wwe-trish-stratus |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=ORIGO |language=hu}}</ref> its uncritical support of the Fidesz ruling party,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |last2=Novak |first2=Benjamin |title=The Website That Shows How a Free Press Can Die |work=The New York Times |date=2018-11-25 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/world/europe/hungary-viktor-orban-media.html |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=2019-08-30 }}</ref> and regularly spreading fake news.<ref name="alhirgyar">{{cite web|url=https://index.hu/belfold/2018/valasztas/2018/03/22/orosz_propaganda_hirdetes_facebook_youtube/|title=Orosz mintára teríti a gyűlöletet és az álhíreket a teljes Fidesz-média|last=Sajó|first=Dávid|language=Hungarian|website=index.hu|date=2018-03-22|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="media1">{{cite web|url=https://media1.hu/2019/07/15/pert-vesztett-az-origo-lokal-nagy-blanka-serelemdij/|title=Egy középiskolás legyőzte az Origót és a Lokált|website=media1.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2019-07-15|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="politico">{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/google-withdraws-grant-to-hungary-news-site-over-fake-news-anti-semitism/|title=Google pulls grant to Hungarian publisher over fake news allegations|website=Politico|first=Lili|last=Bayer|date=2019-04-03|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="torvenyserto">{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/gazdasag/20180323_Torvenyesrtok_lehetnek_az_Origo_es_a_TV2_alhirei|title=Törvénysértők lehetnek az Origo és a TV2 álhírei|website=hvg.hu|language=Hungarian|date=2018-03-23|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Several critics described the website as "state-run propaganda".<ref name="444propaganda">{{cite web|url=https://444.hu/2017/05/16/egyetlen-kep-ami-megmutatja-a-kulonbseget-az-ujsagiras-es-a-fideszes-propaganda-kozott|title=Egyetlen kép, ami megmutatja a különbséget az újságírás és a fideszes propaganda között|language=Hungarian|website=444.hu|last=Horváth|first=Bence|date=2017-05-16|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="atlatszoen">{{cite web|url=https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/09/29/a-case-study-in-hungarian-propaganda-this-is-how-the-pro-government-media-works-if-something-awkward-is-revealed-about-pm-orban/|title=A case study in Hungarian propaganda: this is how the pro-government media works if something awkward is revealed about PM Orban|last=Oroszi|first=Babett|website=atlatszo.hu|date=2018-09-29|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name="crcb">{{cite web|url=https://www.crcb.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/crcb_2017_mrsrpphnm_English_180319_.pdf|title=The impact of Russia's state-run propaganda apparatus on online media in Hungary – 2010–2017|author=Corruption Research Center Budapest|date=2018-05-19|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> In a 2025 column, Georg Spöttle warned Origo readers that Ukraine's accession to the European Union would lead to "Ukrainian mafias" involved in prostitution, human trafficking, and drug smuggling appearing in Hungary.<ref name="Panyi 2025">{{cite web |last=Panyi |first=Szabolcs |date=12 June 2025 |title=Pro-Orbán Propagandist's Ties to Russian Intelligence Exposed |url=https://vsquare.org/germany-hungary-pro-orban-propagandists-russian-intelligence-gru-georg-spottle/ |access-date=17 October 2025 |website=VSquare}}</ref> Spöttle was described as a "German-Hungarian pro-Orbán media figure who frequently appears in government-aligned outlets and once ran as a Fidesz candidate", with reported ties to Russian intelligence. Weeks later, Orbán and his government adopted the same narrative.<ref name="Panyi 2025"/>
== See also == * Democratic backsliding
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://www.origo.hu}}
{{Portal bar|Hungary|Journalism}} Category:1990s establishments in Hungary Category:Hungarian news websites