The European Commission is taking Hungary’s right-wing government to court over laws that could allow the authorities to investigate and prosecute people accused of undermining the country’s sovereign

The European Commission said on Thursday the Hungarian “sovereignty law” that entered into force in February violated EU rules on privacy, freedom of expression and freedom of association. People and organisations deemed a threat to national sovereignty in Hungary — a loosely defined concept — and who are accused of using foreign funding to influence political processes are facing fines and prison terms.