FOI Overview 09/08/2004

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.

-- James Madison

Key PI Resources

Overview of Privacy 17/12/2007
Privacy is a fundamental human right. It underpins human dignity and other values such as freedom of association and freedom of speech. It has become one of the most important human rights of the modern age. Here we review this essential human right.

PI Reports

Review of Draft Moldovan State Secrets Act 27/11/2008
Privacy International has reviewed the draft State Secrets Acts currently being considered by the Moldovan Parliament. The review finds that the draft continues the excessive secrecy of the current policies and in many areas, expands secrecy. It does introduce some modest improvements including better defining the categories of secrets and the inclusion of the public interest test. Overall, the adoption of the bill would represent a step backwards rather than making the system of secrets more open, efficient and accountable. The review was conducted for the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

PI authors report on Counter-Terrorism and Freedom of the Media 25/11/2008
A new report conducted by Privacy International for the Council of Europe Media and Information Society Division reveals effects of new counter-terrorism laws on media and free expression rights in European countries. The report “Speaking of Terror” examines how the “war on terror” has affected access to information, the growth of incitement, glorification and “extremism” restrictions on speech, blocking of internet sites, increased surveillance of journalists and limits on protection of journalists’ sources.

PI Report on Freedom of Information, Secrets and Protection of Sources in OSCE (PDF) 02/05/2007
For World Press Freedom Day, PI has released a new report which reviews freedom of information, state secrets and protection of journalists sources laws in the 56 OSCE participating states and finds that while most OSCE countries have adopted freedom of information laws, there has been an increasing abuse of state secrets laws and illegal searches and wiretapping to limit journalists' and the public's right to know crucial information about the activities of their governments. A 400 page compendium of responses from questionnaires is also available.

PI Comments on Draft Croatian Secrets Act 15/04/2007
At the request of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, PI has written a legal analysis of the draft Croatian Bill on Data Secrecy (Eng/Cr). The Review finds that the current Draft is flawed and represents a lost opportunity to adopt a law that is consistent with modern western standards on protection of state secrets. As it currently stands, the Draft raises serious concerns about its effects on public access to government information and should be significantly amended before it is considered by the Parliament.

PI Review of Albanian State Secrets Act 27/04/2006
PI reviewed amendments to the Law on Classified Information and found them problematic. The existing system of access in Albania has not proven to be adequate and needs improvements in both law and practice. The proposed amendments to the Law on Information Classified “State Secret” would further exacerbate the problem.

PI Comments on Draft Moldovan FOI, Secrets Acts 28/09/2005
At the request of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, PI has written legal analyses of the draft Moldovan Law on Information (Eng/Rom) and the Draft Law on State and Official Secrets (Eng/Rom). The analyses found that the two drafts significantly worsen the right of freedom of information in Moldova.

PI Review of Kyrgyz draft law on freedom of information 01/09/2005
PI Reviewed the draft freedom of information act. The draft bill represents a significant step forward and its adoption and successful implementation would represent a major achievement. There are a few recommended changes to the law to limit some potentially conflicting areas and to improve processing.

PI Global Studies

Global Survey on Protection of Journalists' Sources 08/11/2007
Privacy International released a global survey on protection of journalists' sources in November 2007. Silencing Sources finds that over 100 nations have adopted laws but that the laws are being undermined in many countries by laws on national security, wiretapping and searches. Several important countries including the US, ireland and Canada have not adopted laws.

FOI Survey 2006 Available in Russian 01/08/2007
The Privacy International Global FOIA Survey 2006 is now available in Russian. Translation courtesy of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Freedom of Information Around the World 2006 Report 20/09/2006
Privacy International released the 2006 Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World report on 20 September 2006. The survey reviews FOI and other access laws and their implementation in 70 countries. The survey is now available in English and Russian. A global map of FOI laws, regulations, and pending bills is also available.

FOI Survey 2004 Available in Arabic 20/12/2005
The Freedominfo.org/Privacy International Global FOIA Survey 2004 is now available in Arabic. Translation courtesy of the National Democratic Institute.

PI/Freedominfo.org Global Survey 2004: Freedom of Information and Access to Government Record Laws Around the World 13/05/2004
Privacy International and Freedominfo.org released the 2004 Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World report on 13 May 2004. The survey reviews FOI, state secrets, environmental, archives and other access laws and their implementation in 58 countries. It is available in English, Russian and Arabic A global map is also available.

OAS Resolution AG/RES. 1932 (XXXIII-O/03) 10/06/2003
OAS Resolution AG/RES. 1932 (XXXIII-O/03) on Access to Public Information: Strenghting Democracy, June 10,2003.

Commonwealth Model FOI Bill 01/10/2002
Model FOI bill developed by Commonwealth Secretariat

Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa 14/04/2002
African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights, African Union. Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, meeting at its 32nd Ordinary Session, in Banjul, The Gambia, from 17-23 October 2002. Article 9 provides for a right of information for all persons.

COE Rec(2002)2 on access to official documents 22/02/2002
The Council of Europe issued recommendations to member state in February 2002 on adopting access to records laws. The recommendations include suggested exemptions, a public interest test and an oversight body.

Article XIX, Model Freedom of Information Law 01/07/2001
This model law is designed to assist countries that are considering adopting freedom of information laws. The law contains many of the structures and provisions of national acts that are considered effective or innovative at promoting access. According to Article 19, the law is based the "best practices" of laws and pending bills from the UK, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, and India and also includes new provisions developed by Article 19 based on their experiences.

Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles 01/05/1999
The Council of Ministers of the Commonwealth agreed in May 1999 to these FOI Principles.