In a legislative package that civil society leaders denounce as Kremlin-style authoritarianism, the Slovak government is preparing to collect personal data—without consent—on individuals involved in non-governmental organisations, including ordinary members and volunteers. The draft law would also require NGOs to report all meetings with politicians or senior officials, while tightening state control over public broadcasters and increasing pressure on independent media. The Platform for Democracy—a coalition of 66 NGOs, including VIA IURIS, Post Bellum, and the Open Society Foundation, represented by some of the most prominent civil society leaders in Slovakia—warns that the measures mirror both communist-era surveillance and Russian approaches to civic repression. Critics argue the law would dismantle core democratic protections, violate constitutional rights to privacy and association, and mark a dramatic shift away from liberal democratic norms in an EU member state.
The Platform for Democracy, a coalition of 66 Slovak civil society organisations (CSOs) and initiatives, warns that the government is introducing legislation that threatens fundamental democratic freedoms. Committed to defending civic space, the platform brings together groups such as VIA IURIS, the Carpathian Foundation, Post Bellum, the Open Society Foundation, and PDCS, working to protect media independence, civil rights, and the rule of law. If passed, the proposed laws would expand state surveillance of NGOs, increase government control over the media, and weaken transparency and accountability mechanisms.
The Slovak government is advancing legislation that, if passed, would significantly expand state surveillance of civil society organisations (CSOs), tighten government control over the media, and introduce broad measures affecting transparency and rule of law. Critics argue that the proposals mirror authoritarian tactics used in Russia and threaten democratic freedoms in the country.
A particularly controversial provision would allow state authorities to collect and publicly disclose personal data on members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), raising serious concerns about privacy rights and political intimidation. The Platform for Democracy, a Slovak civil society coalition, condemned the measure as “discriminatory and unconstitutional”, urging lawmakers to reject it.
“The state is beginning to collect data on active citizens. This Orwellian approach to transparency fits into the Russian autocratic perception of the world,” the organisation stated.
The proposed law would require NGOs to report every meeting with politicians or senior state officials, a provision that critics compare to surveillance tactics used during Slovakia’s communist era. The Platform for Democracy warns that such a policy violates the constitutional right to freedom of association:
“That a civil association will have to notify the state of any meeting with a politician or a senior government official is not only completely unacceptable but also a violation of the fundamental constitutional right to association. Such state data collection existed under the communist regime—it was done secretly then, but now the state wants to repeat it openly and without shame.”
Moreover, the law introduces new obligations for NGOs to disclose information about all members of their governing bodies, which could include broad assemblies of ordinary members. The Platform for Democracy warns that the state could effectively compile a public list of individuals exercising their constitutional right to association, exposing them to potential harassment, discrimination, or political retaliation.
“Compared to the previous draft, the obligation to publish data on members of NGO bodies has been added—but it is unclear which bodies this applies to. If, for example, it includes general assemblies, where all members of an association are present, the state may end up with long lists of individuals who are merely exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to association—and these lists would be publicly available. This constitutes a violation of privacy rights.”
Beyond the civil society sphere, the legislative package also introduces new government oversight mechanisms over the media, raising concerns about press freedom in Slovakia. The proposals include measures that would increase state influence over public broadcasters, tighten control over independent outlets, and potentially expose journalists to greater risks of legal and financial pressure.
The proposals are set against a broader backdrop of growing political tensions in Slovakia, where media independence and civil society freedoms have increasingly come under strain. Press freedom advocates warn that these legislative changes could further erode democratic norms, making it more difficult for journalists and activists to hold power to account.
At the heart of the debate is the issue of government transparency versus state control. While the Slovak government claims that the proposed measures are aimed at enhancing oversight and accountability, critics argue that they serve to weaken independent institutions, silence critical voices, and concentrate power in the hands of the state.
The Platform for Democracy has called on Slovak lawmakers to reject the proposed legislation, warning that its adoption would push Slovakia closer to an illiberal model of governance. The outcome of the parliamentary debate will be a key test of Slovakia’s commitment to democratic values, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Source: Platform for Democracy
