News
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12 December 2011
CSOs on OGP Board Caution South Africa on Secrecy Bill
The civil society members of the Open Government Partnership Steering Committee Dec. 12 issued a statement critical of South Africa for its current efforts to pass a bill designed to protect government information that has been widely criticized as a “secrecy bill.” A broad South African civil society coalition, the Right2Know Coalition, had urged the […]
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12 December 2011
EC Proposes to Update Public Data Directive
The European Commission Dec. 12 proposed revisions to its 2003 directive on public sector information intended to encourage European governments to make more data available to the public. See the announcement and explanatory information. Other new elements of the proposal, according to the EC explanation, include: All public data that is not covered by one […]
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9 December 2011
Groups Rally Support for EU Transparency Reforms
With the European Parliament scheduled to vote Dec. 15 on a package of transparency reforms, three civil society groups are seeking to ensure passage with a letter-writing campaign. The legislation is expected to pass, but more roadblocks exist. The largest group of votes in the EU parliament, though not a majority, is that of the European […]
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8 December 2011
OGP Meeting Winds Up; Consultation Plans Sought
The two-day Open Government Partnership meeting in Brazil concluded Dec. 8 with a request from the Brazilian co-chairman for new OGP members to submit plans for civil society consultation by late January. The request came from Minister of State Jorge Hage and was reported in Twitter feeds from persons attending the meeting. Brazil co-chairs the […]
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8 December 2011
Breakthrough Brightens Hopes for FOI in Philippines
The Aquino administration has produced a long-awaited proposal for a freedom of information bill in the Philippines which has been praised by pro-FOI advocates and appears likely to pass. The issuance of a draft law came after months during which President Benigno Aquino, who had appointed a study group of top officials in November 2010 […]
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7 December 2011
Greece Joins OGP; Tweets Source of Info on Meeting
By Toby McIntosh The Open Government Partnership began a two-day “peer exchange working level meeting” Dec. 7 as Greece’s commitment to join brought OGP membership to 50. Most of the sessions were nonpublic, but some tidbits emerged via Twitter postings throughout the day. Among the newsier items: – Kenya promised to have a draft plan […]
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5 December 2011
U.S. Unveils Open Source Code for Open Gov Sites
The U.S. government Dec. 5 unveiled “open source code” designed to help governments manage data and ultimately create more open government platforms around the world. The development grew from an U.S.-India collaboration and a next step, according to the White House blog post, will be an Indian announcement concerning software for an Open Government Platform […]
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2 December 2011
OGP to Discuss South Africa Secrecy Law, Other Topics
What to do about member countries that backslide on transparency will be discussed Dec. 6 by the Open Government Partnership Steering Committee, with the backdrop being South Africa’s plan to adopt what critics call a “secrecy bill.” At least one commentator, with strong links to the OGP, has called on the nine representatives of civil […]
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1 December 2011
FOI Notes: Video, Opportunities, Articles
FOI Update: The FOI Advocates Network has announced plans to create The Right to Information World Advocacy Update. Funded by the Open Society Foundation, “the idea of the document is to help us all understand the successes and challenges for advocates in each region and learn from good case studies as well as get more […]
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28 November 2011
Obama Issues Order on Record Management
The Obama Administration Nov. 28 issued a memorandum on the management of government records, setting the stage for the expanded use of digital-based recordkeeping systems. “The current federal records management system is based on an outdated approach involving paper and filing cabinets,” President Obama said in announcing the orders. “Today’s action will move the process into […]
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28 November 2011
Three Countries Join OGP; Disclosure Policy Criticized
Demark, Armenia and Paraguay have joined the Open Government Partnership, bringing OGP membership to 49. Their commitments come as the OGP prepares for a meeting in Brazil Dec. 7-8 and as comments arrive on the organization’s proposed disclosure policy. In other OGP-related developments: – Tanzania’s efforts to prepare its action plan were faulted in several […]
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28 November 2011
Second Malaysian State Approves FOI Legislation
The Malaysian state of Penang has approved a freedom of information bill, the second state in Malaysia to do so. Selangor passed a bill in April. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) The Penang Freedom of Information Enactment 2010 “seems to have incorporated some suggestions for improvement made by civil society groups consulted by the Select Committee,” […]
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25 November 2011
FOI Notes: Latin America, Kenya, U.S., Nigeria, More
Latin American: “Supreme Audit Agencies in Latin America: Report on Transparency, Participation and Accountability,” a report in English and Spanish coordinated by Asociacion Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia. Kenya: Global Integrity has a new report out “a bottom-up scorecard of transparency, anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Kenya’s three largest cities – Kisumu, Mombasa […]
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25 November 2011
EU Parliament Committee Approves New Access Law
A committee of the European parliament Nov. 23 approved a proposal to improve access to European Union documents. The amendments from the Civil Liberties Committee will be put to a plenary vote in December, according to the committee’s announcement, which stated: The purpose of the amended version of Regulation 1049/2001 is to give the fullest […]
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23 November 2011
Zambia Pledges Open Process to Develop FOI Bill
Positive signs continue in Zambia for freedom of information with a top governmental official promising an open process to develop the bill, a pledge of support from the World Bank and a Catholic bishop urging its enactment. Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda said Nov. 22 that the Patriotic Front government intends to constitute a […]
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22 November 2011
South African Parliament Approves Secrecy Bill
South Africa’s parliament Nov. 22 voted to approve the Protection of State Information Bill, moving it closer to enactment and to promised court challenges. The ruling African National Conference pushed the “secrecy bill” through on a 229-107 vote despite defections by several ANC members. The ANC rejected calls to change the bill, which now goes before […]
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21 November 2011
President Rousseff Signs Access to Information Law
President Dilma Rousseff Nov. 18 signed into law a Brazilian access to information law. The new law (in English and in Portuguese) will become effective in 180 days. Rousseff vetoed two provisions: a mandatory notification to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in cases when access to information essential to safeguard human rights is denied and another concerning […]
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18 November 2011
UN Neutral on Name for Sept. 28, UNESCO Official States
UNESCO does not have a specific position on what to call Sept. 28, according to Guy Berger, the director of the Freedom of Expression and Media Development. Berger wrote to FreedomInfo.org Nov. 14 concerning whether Sept, 28 should remain “Right to Know Day” or be changed to “Right to Information Day” if it is internationally recognized […]
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18 November 2011
AP Looking for New Subject to Continue FOI Testing
The Associated Press, which this week unveiled the results of a worldwide test of national access laws, is looking to do it again. Having invited the public to make suggestions for the next topic, the AP may embark on another FOI-related project, according to AP officials. The AP requested information on terrorism arrests and convictions […]
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18 November 2011
Donor Group Plans $5 Million Transparency Research Effort
The Transparency?and ?Accountability Initiative is planning “a rigorous ?multi?year? research proposal?on? the? impact ?of ?T/A? interventions.” The London-based organization on Dec. 14 requested submissions?by?research or evaluation institutions or consortia to develop a project. The “budget envelope” is $5 million. “The ?aim ?is ?to ?fill ?critical ?gaps ?in ?our ?knowledge?about T/A [transparency and accountability] interventions? and […]