What’s New
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7 May 2015
Bahamas FOI Bill Rated Average in New Scoring
The Bahamian Freedom of Information bill scores 88 points, which would put it in a tie for 48th place in the world, if it ever becomes law, according to an evaluation by the Global Right to Information Rating. Antigua has the top-rated law in the Caribbean region, 11th in the world, and the newly ranked Cayman […]
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7 May 2015
FOI Notes: Open Data, United States, Russia, India, Scotland
Open Data: The OGP blog has a report from the Open Data Working Group on new research studies: Open North Inc. (Canada): “Recommended standards and best practices for open data” (and “Gaps and opportunities for standardization in OGP members’ open data catalogs“) Mitrovic Development & Research Institute (South Africa): “Building open data capacity through e-skills acquisition“ […]
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7 May 2015
Uruguayan Court Denies Access on Surveillance
A Uruguayan court has denied access to basic information about “The Guardian,” a surveillance program instituted by the Uruguayan government. The case was brought by the Center for Archives and Access to Public Information (Centro de Archivos y Acceso a la Información Pública) and rejected in an April 23 court ruling (in Spanish). CAinfo requested a […]
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6 May 2015
Amendments May Make Slovakia’s FOIA Act Most Liberal in Europe
By Andrej Školkay The author is head of the School of Communication and Mass Media in Bratislava, Slovakia. His post first appeared on the LSE Media Policy Project blog. After two years of preparation, the Slovak Parliament is going to discuss an amendment to the law on freedom of information (FOIA) . However, considering the many objections and specifications raised by a published draft, it […]
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6 May 2015
OGP Group Announces Grants for ATI Research
Working with a shoestring budget, the leaders of the Access Working Group of the Open Government Partnership May 6 announced a “micro-grants” program for research into the relationship of access to information with other open government efforts. Information on the terms of reference for the grants and the applications process will be announced soon on […]
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30 April 2015
Ukraine Passes Open Data Bill; Soviet Files Available
The Ukrainian parliament has passed new laws encouraging the release of government open data and providing more information from the country’s archive of Soviet-era KGB files. Parliament April 9 approved a law to encourage government agencies to publish free operational data, statistics and reports on government websites and the national open data web platform at […]
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30 April 2015
Access to Information in Kenya
By Ruth Nzioka The author is a Legal Researcher at the Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG) and first appeared on the ILEG blog. The views expressed here are purely her own and do not necessarily reflect ILEG’s position. “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help […]
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30 April 2015
FOI Notes: SE Asia, Media Freedom, US, Research, Art, Budget Transparency, More
Southeast Asia: Transparency International reports that “rampant corruption across Southeast Asia threatens to derail plans for greater economic integration,” and makes more transparency one of the necessary reforms. “Three key areas have presented themselves in ongoing consultations as both vital and underdeveloped in terms of transparency and citizen engagement in Southeast Asia: 1) whistleblower protection […]
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30 April 2015
IFAI Seeks Public Input on Participatory Governance
Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI) has called for advice on how the government can be not only more open, but more collaborative with citizens. IFAI’s mandate includes more than implementing the freedom of information law and extends to promoting citizen participation, according to the April 27 announcement (in Spanish). […]
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29 April 2015
OGP Steering Committee Picks France as Future Chair
The Open Government Partnership Steering Committee has put France in line to become the government co-chair of the 65-nation multilateral organization. The other contender for the job was Georgia. The Steering Committee met in Mexico April 21-23 on this and other topics. (Look here for agenda and future minutes.) An OGP subcommittee was scheduled to […]
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29 April 2015
Notes of the Mexican Transparency System reform.
By Ana Cristina Ruelas Serna and David Mora The authors work at ARTICLE 19, Mexico and Central America. On April 16th, the Mexican Congress finally approved the General Transparency Law, making progress in adjusting the current legal framework to the standards ordered by the Constitutional reform approved in February 2014. The final text did not include […]
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27 April 2015
Commissioners Concerned About Challenges to RTI
Thirty-five information commissioners from 25 countries, meeting April 21 in Santiago, Chile, “expressed concern” regarding “some important challenges” to the right to information. In particular, the commissioners identified: The continuing inequalities that limit the right to access information for all citizens, The deterioration of the right to access information because of the approval of legislation and public […]
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23 April 2015
FOI Notes: Open Data, Spain, United States, Tanzania, OGP, Videos
Open Data: New poll results by the US Pew Foundation describe Americans’ opinions on open data. Alex Howard reported that “In general, more people surveyed are guardedly optimistic about the outcomes and release of open data, although that belief does vary with their political views, trust in government, and specific areas.” Spain: Levels of administrative silence […]
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16 April 2015
No Central Request Function In Planned US FOIA Portal
By Toby McIntosh The “FOIA Portal” being developed by the Obama administration is underwhelming, according to persons interviewed by FreedomInfo.org. The portal will lack a key feature typically described as a “Consolidated Online Request Portal.” In particular, the yet unveiled portal will not provide a central place to file freedom of information requests. Nor will […]
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16 April 2015
North Dakota Bars Disclosure of Private Place Police Videos
North Dakota appears to be the first state to have passed a new law restricting access to videos taken with body cameras worn by law enforcement officials. The bill signed April 15 by Gov. Jack Dalrymple states: “An image taken by a law enforcement officer or a firefighter with a body camera or similar device […]
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16 April 2015
EITI Sanctions Azerbaijan; Similar OGP Review Pending
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has sanctioned the government of Azerbaijan for impeding civil society participation in the EITI process. Azerbaijan April 15 was downgraded to “candidate” country status by the EITI Board, relying on a Validation report carried out earlier this year, according to the EITI announcement. A similar complaint has been lodged by civil […]
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16 April 2015
Croatian CSO Files Appeal Against Denial of Information
A civil society organization in Croatia is appealing a court ruling that overturned the information commissioner’s order for the government to disclose its legal bills to defend two persons before the International Tribunal in the Hague. GONG, the CSO, is challenging the recent decision by the High Administrative Court, which ruled that the commissioner had […]
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16 April 2015
Clinton Emails Raise Questions About Agency Record Obligations
By Harry Hammit Hammit is editor and publisher of Access Reports, a bi-monthly report on U.S. and Canadian freedom of information legal developments. The recent revelation that Hillary Clinton used her personal email account to conduct government business while she was Secretary of State, retained custody of those emails on a personal server at her home in […]
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16 April 2015
FOI Notes: ICIC, Vexatious Requests, Accessing Code, South Africa, India, UK, US
ICIC: The Ninth International Conference of Information Commissioners will be held April 22 and 23 in Santiago, Chile, The limited posted program is a mix of speeches and panels. It does not appear that the sessions will be webcast. The attending commissioners will meet privately and are expected to issue a statement. South Africa: Gabriella […]
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9 April 2015
Tanzanian RTI Bill Rated as Rather Mediocre by Mendel
The Tanzanian government’s right to information bill is “rather mediocre,” according to Toby Mendel, an author of the RTI-Rating index that evaluates RTI laws. The government recently tabled the long-promised bill (text). It now goes to committee and is expected to be discussed by full House in May. In the face of objections from RTI advocates, […]