Today, on the Fourth of July, The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) turns 40. The law at the time changed the policy of giving agencies discretion on what to provide to the public, instead directing them to make records available to the public.
Jimmy Carter celebrated yesterday with this column, summarizing whats been achieved since 1966.
Increasingly, developed and developing nations are recognizing that a free flow of information is fundamental for democracy. Whether it’s government or private companies that provide public services, access to their records increases accountability and allows citizens to participate more fully in public life. It is a critical tool in fighting corruption, and people can use it to improve their own lives in the areas of health care, education, housing and other public services. Perhaps most important, access to information advances citizens’ trust in their government, allowing people to understand policy decisions and monitor their implementation.
To get some FOIA basics, Check out George Washington University’s National Security Archives. For more in depth information on FOIA, I recommend you go to the source of much FOIA litigation, my future employer, EPIC — and get a copy of their Litigation Under Federal Open Government Laws.
I filed some FOIA requests while I was a summer clerk at EPIC. I have to admit I haven’t since then. It’s surprisingly easy. I think everyone should do it. Basically watch out for news items or things of interest. And think about what sort of records an executive agency could have that would help this public debate. At EPIC, the clerks would file on things like the Pentagon keeping marketing records on students; surveillance policies by agencies; and private sector cooperation with law enforcement.