Automation in action: Experience with quick and cost-efficient administrative decisions in Hungary

Automated decision-making can streamline administrative procedures, reducing the burden on authorities in straightforward cases. However, a concerning trend emerges: negative decisions challenged by clients are often so simplified that they render judicialreview meaningless, leaving issues unresolved. This is not merely a technical issue but a constitutional one. Clients are frequently deprived of meaningful reasoning, procedural safeguards, and effective legal remedies. Administrative decisions should uphold legality and transparency, ensuring fair proceedings. When a decision lacks proper justification and courts cannot assess its legality, it becomes unsuitable for review, undermining due process. If automation leads to decisions lacking transparency and accountability, it threatens fundamental legal principles.This study aims to show how automated -decision making is done in practice and what legal problems has emerged already by exploring casefiles and judicial decisions to highlight the risks of automated decision-making and calls for a balanced approach to maintain efficiency while safeguarding constitutional rights and judicial oversight.