What’s New
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17 March 2014
Court Critical of CIA Refusal to Provide Softcopy Records
By Steven Aftergood This article appeared March 17 in Secrecy News Blog. Even when the Central Intelligence Agency possesses a releasable document in a softcopy format, the Agency typically refuses to release the softcopy version in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, and insists on providing a hardcopy version of the document instead. A […]
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17 March 2014
Some Critics Decry Aquino Hands-Off Stance on FOIA
The leading Senate sponsors of the freedom to information bill in the Senate has said public pressure will bring about passage of a bill, taking a more charitable view than others on President Benigno Aquino’s continuing decision not to “certify” the bill as urgent. Sen. Grace Poe’s confidence contrasts with the growing concern among commentators […]
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14 March 2014
World Bank Creating Tool to Gauge FOI Implementation
The World Bank is developing and testing a set of indicators to evaluate the implementation of right to know laws. Expected out in June, the 120-item evaluative tool will cover topics such as enforcement and management. The Bank is testing the tool using information gathered about four countries. Also nearing a debut is a project […]
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14 March 2014
African Network Issues Recommendations
The Working Group of the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) has called on more African countries to pass the Model Law on Access to Information developed by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and adopted by the African Commission. The civil society coalition’s March 6 statement […]
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14 March 2014
Slovenia Upper House Stalls FOI Amendments Legislation
Slovenia’s National Council has opposed an expansion of the freedom of information law recently approved by the lower house, but under the Slovenian system the bill may still become law. The upper house “veto” was passed by a narrow margin March 13. The National Assembly, however, has the power to vote again and approve the […]
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14 March 2014
FOI Notes: OGP, UK, Canada
Open Government Partnership: The OGP Independent Review Mechanism is looking for individuals to carry out research at the national level for 34 countries. The reviewers will assess government progress on implementation of OGP action plans. Please read more here or directly submit an English (preferred) or Spanish CV to the IRM at IRM@opengovpartnership.org. Use the […]
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12 March 2014
UK Court Rejects Secrecy for Prince Charles’ Letters
The Court of Appeal in the United Kingdom March 12 ruled that the Attorney General unlawfully vetoed disclosure of Prince Charles’ letters to government ministers. The three judge panel’s decision says the veto was incompatible with European Union environmental law. The Guardian newspaper nine years ago requested the correspondence sent to various government agencies in […]
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10 March 2014
Philippines Senate Passes FOI Bill Without Dissent
The Philippines Senate on March passed a freedom of information bill on third and final reading. All senators present voted in favor of the measure, according to a report by the Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and one in The Inquirer. “While the Senate breezed through the FOI, the House version continues to meander […]
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10 March 2014
Crowdfunding FOI Requests Gains in Use, Seems to Work
By Toby McIntosh The use of crowdfunding to raise money for freedom of information requests is occurring at modest levels in the Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States, according to reports gathered by FreedomInfo.org. The number of instances may be too few to be called a trend, but too intriguing to be ignored. And […]
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10 March 2014
FOI Notes: India, US, Nepal, OGP, Research, UK, Fellowship
India: The Ministry of Personnel and Training has issued a Volume 1 of a “Compendium of Best Practices on RTI.” including The chapter titles are: SARATHI (System of Assisting Residents And Tourists through Helpline Information), RTI Library, Transparency Desk, RTI Online, Central Monitoring Mechanism, Pro-Active Disclosure, Jaankari, MCA21, Information Kiosks, Chakravyuh, Digitization and RTI Foundation […]
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7 March 2014
Colombia President Signs Information Access Law
President Juan Manuel Santos March 6 signed a new access to information law in Colombia saying it will help fight corruption. It will come into effect in six months for national government agencies and in a year for local governments. The law in May of 2013 was approved by the constitutional court with a few […]
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7 March 2014
US Advisory Body Meets on FOIA Dispute Resolution
A government advisory body in the United States is considering preliminary suggestions to improve dispute resolution for freedom of information requests. A committee of the Administrative Conference of the United States met on the topic March 6, and will continue deliberating on the recommendations, derived from a lengthy research paper on FOIA disputes. A main focus is the […]
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7 March 2014
EU Ombudsman Says ECB Being Too Secretive
European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has chastised the Governing Council of the European Central Bank for blocking disclosure of an ECB letter called on the Irish government to take swift action to protect the stability of the Irish financial system. “I regret that the Governing Council of the ECB has wasted an opportunity to apply the […]
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7 March 2014
Two Pakistani States Implementing New Laws
Two Pakistani states have taken somewhat delayed steps to implement recently passed right to information laws. The Punjab government has established the Punjab Information Commission and appointed the commissioners. One of them is Mukhtar Ahmed Ali. He is the founding director of a group that advocated for the new law, the Centre for Peace and […]
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6 March 2014
Bahrain Sets Penalties for Leaking Information
The Bahrian Shura Council has approved a government-drafted bill to penalize leaks of government information. The categories are top secret, secret and limited/classified” according to a Gulf Daily article. Under the amended law, government officials who leak “top secret” information could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to BD5,000 ($13,263). Officials […]
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6 March 2014
Slovenian Assembly Expands Reach of Access Law
The Slovenian National Assembly March 6 unanimously voted to extend freedom of information disclosure requirements to state- and municipality-owned firms, according to Slovenian Press Agency report. An amendment to make public all non-performing loans at state banks was defeated. Senior executives of state-owned companies lobbied strongly against the proposed changes to the Access to Public […]
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4 March 2014
Philippines Senate Nears Passage of FOI Bill
The Philippines Senate March 3 approved on second reading a freedom of information bill, after making some amendments. The FOI bill (Senate Bill 1733) is expected to pass on third and final reading on March 10. Senate passage has occurred regularly in recent years, but passage in the House has been the hang-up. Once again, the […]
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4 March 2014
Turkish Groups RTI Experiences, Make Plans
A focus group meeting on right to information was held Jan. 14 in Ankara, Turkey, and civil society participants summarized their goals in a report. The session was organized jointly by TACSO Turkey and STGM and brought together 16 CSO participants. The purpose of the meeting was to share their opinions and experience in relation […]
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4 March 2014
Bermuda Premier Plans Hunt for First Info Commissioner
Bermuda Premier Craig Cannonier has told parliament that the recruitment process for an information commissioner to oversee the 2010 freedom of information law will start this spring. He said further legislation on public access to information — to set fees, establish the organization and deal with maintenance of public records — would be introduced in […]
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4 March 2014
FOI Notes: Research, Oscars, OGP, Open Data, RTI Video
Research: The Governance Lab (The GovLab) at New York University announced the formation of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Opening Governance, which will seek to develop blueprints for more effective and legitimate democratic institutions to help improve people’s lives. It is made possible by a three-year grant of $5 million from the John D. […]