An investigative report by Hungarian outlet 444 has exposed what it describes as a sophisticated, centrally-organized network of fake Facebook profiles systematically flooding comment sections with pro-government messaging, raising fresh questions about the integrity of online political discourse ahead of Hungary's 2026 parliamentary elections.
The operation centers on the Digital Democracy Development Agency (DDÜ), a firm established in July 2023 that officially coordinates "Digital Civic Circles" but allegedly maintains a specialized unit creating and managing hundreds of inauthentic accounts. These profiles—bearing names like "Targoncás Emma Emmus" and "Rézműves Dzsesszika Ajándék"—deploy coordinated messaging campaigns across Facebook, particularly targeting posts by government officials and opposition critics.
The 444 investigation documented a revealing pattern following a January 8 government announcement about free firewood distribution to 2,300 settlements. Morning comments predominantly criticized the program's quality and timing. But at 10:30 AM, the tone shifted dramatically: within an hour, more than seventy positive comments appeared, praising Viktor Orbán's government while attacking opposition forces.
"I watched for two hours as one person cycled through at least ten different profiles," said a source with knowledge of the DDÜ's internal operations, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source described employees accessing Google documents labeled "Mobilization Dashboard" and "Mood" to coordinate their activities.
Many fake accounts register as Facebook pages rather than personal profiles, allowing them to purchase advertisements and gain algorithmic advantages in comment visibility. Pages frequently rebrand: "Do You Also Get Annoyed by Nose Blowing?" became "Dr. Morvai Tamás' Page," while "Dobogókő City Hall" transformed into "Pálházi Melinda."
Between October 2025 and late January 2026, these accounts published 2,879 identical text posts across multiple pages, featuring standardized political messaging about "peace," "caring government," and "Magyar Péter's austerity measures." The network proves especially active under posts by Orbán Balázs, the prime minister's political director, as well as content from Lázár János, Szentkirályi Alexandra, and even non-political figures like fitness influencer Schobert Norbert.
The accounts' primary function is "defensive"—intervening when negative sentiment builds around particular posts or news stories. Rather than mobilizing genuine Fidesz supporters, the operation deploys artificial accounts to shape perceived public opinion.
The network also targets specific Facebook groups, including "Orbán Viktor for Prime Minister in 2026" (110,000 members), "Szijjártó Péter is the Best Foreign Minister," and "Thanks to the Fidesz-KDNP Government in 2026 Too."
Orbán's Inner Circle Connection
The DDÜ operates from Budapest's 13th district and is led by Partos Bence, a psychologist who previously directed the psychology program at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a government-backed institution. Orbán Balázs, who chairs the MCC's board of trustees, reportedly entrusted Partos with building this digital infrastructure as his campaign chief.
The agency shares its building with the Moral Source Code Nonprofit and the Digital Democracy Development Foundation, entities with overlapping missions. Publicly, these organizations promote "digital awareness" and "civic debate culture." Internal sources describe a different reality: campaign-mode pressure, extended work hours beyond the standard eight-hour day, vacation cancellations, and no bonuses or raises despite intense workloads.
The DDÜ's current managing director, Nagy Károly, previously belonged to the opposition Momentum party but departed following a sexual harassment scandal. He subsequently moved through the Transparent Journalism Foundation before joining Partos's ventures and eventually leading the DDÜ.
Government Silence
The 444 sent questions to both Fidesz and government offices asking whether they maintain contractual relationships with the DDÜ and how they view such "inauthentic behavior" in political campaigning. No response has been received.
In Hungary, as across the region, national sovereignty and European integration exist in constant tension. Yet this investigation reveals a different tension—between democratic discourse and manufactured consent, between genuine political support and algorithmic manipulation designed to create its illusion.
The revelations come as polls show Magyar Péter's opposition Tisza Party gaining ground ahead of the 2026 elections, with international observers increasingly viewing the contest as competitive. Whether coordinated online influence operations can overcome shifting public sentiment remains among the campaign's central questions.
Facebook parent company Meta has historically struggled to combat coordinated inauthentic behavior in smaller language markets, where detection algorithms prove less sophisticated than those deployed for English-language content. The 444 investigation suggests Hungary represents a test case for whether social media platforms can effectively police state-linked information operations in emerging European democracies.
