What’s New
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17 February 2014
Application of Nigerian FOI Law to States Contested
Whether the new Nigerian freedom of information law automatically applies to the states remains an issue in the courts and the subject of lawyerly debates. One court ruling held that the 2011 FOI law did apply to the states. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) A judge in Oyo ruled in November that the federal FOI law […]
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17 February 2014
Brazil Making Plans to Monitor New Law
Brazil is planning to make improvements in managing its new law on access to information, according to a Brazilian official involved in implementing the 2011 law. Brazilian officials are looking to better utilize its computerized request system according to Otavio Moreira de Castro Neves, a Brazilian official in the Office of the Comptroller General who spoke […]
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17 February 2014
Cost-Conscious Isle of Man Consults on Draft FOI Bill
The Isle of Man on Feb. 10 began a six-week public consultation on proposed freedom of information legislation drafted with an eye on potential costs. Chief Minister Allan Bell said in the announcement explains that the bill strikes a balance between the competing demands of openness, confidentiality and affordability. “The Council of Ministers remains committed […]
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17 February 2014
FOI Notes, Sierra Leone, US, India, EU, OGP
Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone’s new RTI law is tied as 5th strongest in the world, according to an analysis by the Centre for Law and Democracy. The law scored 124 out of a possible maximum of 150 points on the RTI Rating, an analytical tool developed by CLD and its partner organisation, Access Info India: […]
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17 February 2014
OGP Subcommittee Works on Organizational Issues, Funding
The Open Government Partnership is continuing to refine its structure and procedures, build its financial base and set long-term goals, according to minutes of a subcommittee meeting held Jan. 28-29 in Mexico City, Mexico. Among other decisions, the subcommittee recommended that for the first time, the OGP should impose a slight penalty for member countries […]
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14 February 2014
Oman Panel Discusses Draft Information Access Legislation
Oman’s Shura Council’s Committee on Media and Culture has discussed a draft information access law , according to a brief report in The Oman Tribune. Committee Chairman Hamouda Bin Mohammed Al Harsosi “commended members of the technical team for drafting the law on the right of information access, wishing that the current session would be […]
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14 February 2014
`Insatiable’ Desire to Suppress Information in Malaysia
By Charles Santiago Santiago is a member of the Malaysian Parliament. This article first appeared Feb. 13 in The Malaysian Chronicle. After an intense fight of eight years, we lost the battle. The Federal Court dismissed our application for a judicial review of the Court of Appeal’s decision from accessing the concession agreement of water […]
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14 February 2014
ATI Used in Brazil to Get Access to Water
This report by Article 19 appears on the Article 19 website here. Freedom of expression and information are key in the battle to fight poverty and improve people’s lives. The availability and accessibility of information promotes transparency, ensures better governance and reduces inefficiency and corruption. Information gives people the opportunity to improve their own lives, participate […]
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14 February 2014
Mexican President Signs Transparency Reforms
President Enrique Peña Nieto on Feb. 7 signed into law the new transparency reforms strengthening the Federal Institute for Access to Information (IFAI). The signing came at a ceremony. See reports (in Spanish) in CNN and El Universal. In an interview on CNN Miguel Pulido of FUNDAR welcomed the reform as “a message that we […]
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14 February 2014
FOI Notes: Algorithms, Contracting, Open Data, Funder Transparency, OGP
Algorithmic Transparency: Nick Diakopoulos, of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University Journalism School, has written a report in which he says, “Algorithms, driven by vast troves of data, are the new power brokers in society.” In his conclusion, he advises: Next time you hear about software or an algorithm being used to […]
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12 February 2014
Lithuania, Malta, Turkey Fall Behind in OGP Process
Lithuania, Malta and Turkey have failed to meet their commitments as members of the Open Government Partnership, the OGP acknowledged in an unusual public statement issued Feb. 11. Three countries appear to be drop-outs from “Cohort 2” – a group of countries that joined the OGP at about the same time. They faced the same […]
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12 February 2014
CIC Orders Six Parties to Comply With RTI Act
India’s Central Information Commission Feb. 7 asked the six national parties to explain what they have done to fulfill a June 2013 CIC for them to comply with the Right to Information Act. The Commission asked the parties to provide details of their actions within four weeks, according to media reports such as one in […]
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7 February 2014
EU Council Obstructs Ruling on Transparency
By Staffan Dahllöf This article first appeared in Wobbing EU on Feb. 7. Dahllöf is a freelancer who regularly contributes to the website Wobbing EU. (FreedomInfo.org reported on the referenced October ruling.) The Council of the EU has classified its own reaction to a landmark ruling on transparency by the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg. […]
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6 February 2014
China Issues Regulations Implementing Secrecy Law
Long-awaited implementing regulations under China’s State Secrecy Law have been published. The Chinese media characterized them as a measure to boost government transparency, but critics questioned them. The regulations (in Chinese) impose conditions for classification and set deadlines for de-classifications. There appears to be no system for citizens to challenge classification decisions and withholding of information on […]
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6 February 2014
Malawi Cabinet Approves Access to Information Policy
The Malawi Cabinet has approved an access to information policy, setting the stage for introduction of ATI legislation. The development was cheered by activists as removing the last major hurdle to the enactment of an ATI law. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi chapter, one of the groups leading the campaign for a […]
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6 February 2014
Philippines House Group Begins Work on FOI Bill
A technical working group of a Philippines House committee has scheduled a meeting for Feb. 12 to discuss merging 22 freedom of information bills. The Public Information Committee meeting Feb. 5 agreed to adopt the noncontroversial provisions in the final draft, according to an Inquirer report. The article says: Meanwhile, the group would debate on the […]
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6 February 2014
FOI Notes: Grants, US Advisory Panel, Local Open Data Census, Delaware
Grants: Open Society Initiative for West Africa is seeking proposals to “promote access to Information and Media Freedom” in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone. The announcement also includes a variety of other topics. Proposals should be sent directly to: proposals@osiwa.org and will be accepted until May 30, 2014. United States: The […]
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6 February 2014
RTI Law Passes in Bhutan; 100th International Law?
The National Assembly of Bhutan on Feb. 5 passed a right to information bill, putting Bhutan on the path to becoming the 100th nation in the world with an RTI law. The bill was debated for several days, according to a BBS report that also includes a video clip about the deliberations. The bill goes to […]
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5 February 2014
Effort Continues to Pass RTI Legislation in Afghanistan
Draft access to information legislation for Afghanistan has yet to make it from the Cabinet of Ministers to the Parliament, so campaigners are lobbying members of parliament. A draft law was presented to the Cabinet eight months ago, according to Habibullah Muqbel of Integrity Watch Afghanistan. “Despite our efforts it has not been sent to […]
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5 February 2014
Top Chilean Court Denies Access to Attorney Names
The Chilean Supreme Court has declared as proprietary information the names of the lawyers who represented Chile in Court of International Justice in The Hague in a case involving a maritime claim by Peru. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision (in Spanish) also denied access to information about fees paid to the lawyers. In doing so, […]