Knowra Freedom of information law Freedom of information law Freedom of information law gives people rights to request records held by public authorities. It sets procedures for requests, deadlines for responses, and grounds for withholding information.
Freedom of information request : A formal request asking a public authority to disclose records under access-to-information law. It is the procedure through which an access right is exercised.
Sweden's Freedom of the Press Act : A Swedish constitutional statute, first enacted in 1766, that established public access to official documents. It is an early statutory foundation for modern public-record access rights.
Official secrets law : Laws restricting disclosure or use of specified government information, often on national-security grounds. Secrecy rules can restrict records that access laws otherwise make requestable.
Investigative journalism : Journalism that systematically investigates matters of public concern, often using documents and source testimony. Reporters use access requests to obtain records that inform investigations.
Public records : Documents and data created or received by government bodies in carrying out public business. Their status and custody help determine which records a request can reach.
Freedom of Information Act 1966 : A United States federal law that grants access to agency records, subject to statutory exemptions. Its enactment made federal agency disclosure a defined legal right in the United States.
Data protection law : Laws regulating the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of information about identifiable people. Privacy duties may limit disclosure of personal information in public records.
Government transparency : The degree to which government decisions, records, and processes are open to public scrutiny. Disclosure laws create a practical route to scrutinize public administration.
Freedom of information exemption : A statutory ground allowing a public authority to withhold information from disclosure. Exemptions define limits on access, often balancing disclosure against protected interests.
Right to Information Act 2005 : An Indian law providing citizens access to information held by public authorities, subject to exemptions. It illustrates a major statutory access regime outside the earliest European and US models.
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