Public Information Provision in the Digital Age: Implementation and Effects of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act
Abstract
The Dutch government creates messages and owns and distributes a large amount of information. Access to this information is open in principle, but the legal framework implies constraints in allowing access to information at the same time, for instance to protect privacy, and it's re-use, for instance property rights. The interaction of laws has led to differences in the way government services offer (access to) information, and against which costs. This affects the accessibility of government information directly, and therefore it affects the transparency of the public service. Due to the rapid development of technologies and services in IT and telecommunications, and in particular the emergence and ubiquity of the Internet the way in which information is stored and has become accessible has changed a lot. The way public services provide information has therefore already been affected. This has led to even more differentiation in accessibility of data and pricing of access to data. As a result, the legal framework as well as the organization of access to the databases and information will need to be reviewed, in particular to assess the applicability of current law on electronic data.. Many countries in the Western world have become active in revising their frameworks, with a particular focus on the ability to approach data electronically. This revision is likely to lead to reduction of costs per response to an information request, and provides an opportunity to simplify ("harmonise") access to information and the conditions for information provision. A leading country is the United States, which has experience with the Freedom of Information Act. The US Freedom of Information Act (FOlA) was first enacted in 1966, giving any person the right to ask for access to federal agency records. It required agencies to release records upon written request, except for those protected from disclosure by FOJA's exemptions and exclusions. Amendments to the Act in 1996 expand c
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA392251
Entities
People
- Erik Frinking
- Jonathan Cave
- Maarten Botterman
- Sandy Bosman
- Tora Bikson
Organizations
- RAND Corporation