News
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14 January 2013
Irish Minister Foresees Partial Application of FOI to NAMA
A key Irish minister Jan. 10 said a revised freedom of information law should be applied to the government-backed financial body established to help bail out the Irish economy, but that certain “safeguards” to protect the commercial interests of the federal government will be required, according to media reports. Application of the FOI law to […]
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10 January 2013
National Security Exemptions Stir Controversy in Colombia
By Michael Evans Evans is a staff member at the National Security Archive. In the coming days, Colombia’s Constitutional Court will decide the fate of the country’s new transparency law. The version of the Ley de Acesso (Access Law) that emerged from the legislative process last year has stirred up heated debate in Colombia, mainly […]
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10 January 2013
EU Ombudsman Blasts EC for Denying Document Access
European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros has blasted the European Commission for denying access to documents concerning its view of the United Kingdom’s decision to opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The ombudsman said the Commission “has breached the Charter of Fundamental Rights by wrongfully refusing to give public access” to the documents and […]
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10 January 2013
Egyptian Government Improves Draft FOI Law
The Egyptian government has proposed a new draft law on access to information which observers called improved but not ideal. Amr Gharbeia, civil liberties director at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, is quoted as saying that the draft is a “good law overall and a major improvement on the previous government draft.” However, he […]
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10 January 2013
FOI Notes: Chile, Social Media, FOI Journalism, Open Data, Social Media, China, Aid Transparency
Chile: Chilean journalists think there´s more transparency in Chile now, but there still are institutions that are very slow to provide the answers. Almost 500 Chilean journalists participated in a survey (in Spanish) by the National Press Association (Asociación Nacional de la Prensa “ANP”) about the state of the access to public information, according to a […]
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10 January 2013
Armenian Center Wins FOI Cases, Collects Legal Fees
The FOI Center of Armenia has won a court case in which it sought access to information on spending in a pre-electoral campaign, according to an FOICA announcement. The court ruled on Dec. 21, 2012, that the Democratic Party of Armenia must provide information requested by the FOICA on April 25. The party ignored the […]
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10 January 2013
Lebanon Drafting Committee Advances FOI Legislation
Freedom of information legislation for Lebanon was approved Nov. 26, 2012, by a drafting subcommittee and is now before the Administration and Justice Committee. The National Network for the Right to Access Information has been pressing for action on bill. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) In October, a subcommittee was formed to review a bill drafted […]
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10 January 2013
Liberian Group Appeals for Access to Asset Disclosures
A Liberian group has appealed to the Information Commissioner for access to the asset disclosure forms of ministers and deputy ministers. Access to the declarations was denied by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC) citing an exemption in the Liberian freedom of information law. The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has filed a […]
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4 January 2013
Hong Kong Ombudsman Says He Will Examine Access Code
Hong Kong’s Ombudsman Alan Lai has announced an investigation into the access to information regime and records management system in Hong Kong. “There have been calls from time to time from the public for the Administration to enhance citizens’ right to access information,” according to the Jan. 4 press release. “The Administration has thus far maintained […]
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4 January 2013
FOI Notes: Call for Articles, U.K., Open Data
Call for Articles on Transparency in Government: PA Times [A U.S. journal on public administration] is planning a March issue on “Transparency in Government: Openness, Collaboration and Accountability.” A request for articles says: “Submit an article that discusses transparency in government and its role in promoting collaboration and accountability. We want to know how local, […]
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4 January 2013
U.S. Judge Denies Access to Terrorist-Related Documents
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the federal government does not need to disclose internal legal opinions and other documents justifying the use of drones to kill suspected terrorist operatives abroad. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon in a 68-page opinion issued Jan. 2 largely rejected suits brought by the New York Times and […]
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4 January 2013
EU Court Rejects Appeal for Documents on NGO Projects
The European Court of Justice has rejected efforts by an Israeli organization to obtain documents from the European Union on the funding of projects by human rights organizations in Israel. The court ruled on Nov. 27 against NGO Monitor and its president, Gerald Steinberg, a political scientist at Bar Ilan University. Concerned about EU influence […]
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31 December 2012
Philippines FOI Bill Called Priority, But Time Short
Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr., has said that the freedom of information bill will be one of the priority bills when the Philippines House of Representatives on Jan. 21 convenes for what will only be an nine-day session. But Belmonte told reporters that mustering a quorum will be a challenge, according to news reports including […]
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31 December 2012
Publishing Names of Gun Owners Triggers U.S. Debate
The publication by a New York newspaper of the names and addresses of handgun owners, although public information, has generated a substantial controversy. The Journal News published an interactive map to make it easy for readers to find some gun owners in New York’s Rockland and Westchester counties, outside of New York City. The paper […]
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31 December 2012
FOI Notes: Open Data, Fighting Corruption, Brazil, Canada, Russia
Open Data/New York: The New York state Committee on Open Government makes transparency and accountability recommendations, proposing to obligate agencies to make their information available in open data format, either by legislation or by an order of the governor. The committee recommends the state “push” information through proactive disclosure by releasing material that is the […]
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31 December 2012
Malaysian State of Selangor Inaugurates FOI Law Jan. 1
The freedom of information law in the Malaysian state of Selangor will come into force Jan. 1. The bill was passed in April of 2011 and is the first state FOI law. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) “It’s a very exciting challenge for the state government,” executive councillor Elizabeth Wong told The Selangor Times. Reporter Gan Pei […]
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31 December 2012
Punjab FOI Bill Proposed, Critic Voices Reservations
The government of Punjab has prepared freedom of information legislation, according to media reports, but one early reaction suggests that much information would be exempted from disclosure. The “bureaucracy” of the Pakistani province has finalized the draft, according to a Dec. 21 article in The Dawn. “The draft was finalised during a meeting of the administrative secretaries […]
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24 December 2012
Zambian FOI Bill to Be Offered in 2013, Minister Says
A key Zambian minister has promised that a freedom of information bill will be presented to Parliament in the first quarter of 2013, according to a newspaper report. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Kennedy Sakeni, made the comment during a trip to see the Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Hlobotha Nkunika, in Kasama, the Lusaka […]
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21 December 2012
Mexican Senate Advances Amendments to FOI Law
The Mexican Senate on Dec. 20 unanimously approved amendments to the freedom of information law, increasing the powers of the FOI oversight body. Under the legislation, supported by new president Enrique Peña Nieto, the Federal Institute of Access to Information (IFAI) would gain new autonomy, with its decisions made binding. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) This […]
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21 December 2012
Philippines FOI Bill Absent in Final Days of House Session
The freedom of information bill was not presented on the floor of the Philippines House during the closing days of the 2012 session, leaving another step to be taken in nine days available for possible action early next year. Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada in a text message to reporters, said that the bill is “back […]