10- Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act

The ability to access valuable information is one that is highly utilized by many Americans today. In order to satisfy the public's desire to access government information, the Freedom of Information Act was introduced in 1967. The FOIA gives public citizens the ability to request access to view documents from federal agencies. Agencies are often encouraged to readily provide records that are frequently requested. 

The process for accessing records can look different based on the type of information and where the information is coming from. When a request is submitted, the agency that the information will come from receives an order of receipt. All requests must be fulfilled within twenty working days. There is not a specific amount of money that the request will cost. This can often change based on the amount of time that it takes for the information to be located, gathered, and provided for the person who submitted the request. For requests that are estimated to cost twenty-five dollars or more, agencies provide a notice of the cost.  

Although the FOIA requires many records to be released to the public, there are nine exemptions to this. According to the official FOIA website, these exemptions are:

1. Information that is classified to protect national security

2. Information related to the internal rules and practices of an agency 

3. Information that cannot be disclosed due to another federal law

4. Trade secrets or confidential information

5. Information that is privileged between agencies, such as attorney-client privilege

6. Information that could invade a person's privacy if released

7. Information collected for the use of law enforcement

8. Information from financial institutions

9. Some geological information

FOIA in Other Countries

While the FOIA has existed in the United States for several decades, other nations have unique histories regarding their information acts. 

The United Kingdom did not adopt its Freedom of Information Act until the end of 2000. This occurred after a twenty-year effort to receive the act. Despite its delayed arrival, the UK's version of the FOIA provides the public with the same access to government information. The act's exemptions are similar as well, with many of them covering information that is confidential, sensitive, or related to law enforcement purposes. There is also the similarity in that there is a twenty-day limit to respond to FOIA requests. 

Albania introduced The Law on Right to Information for Official Documents in 1999. According to the law, there are no exceptions on what information can be requested. The only documents that can still be restricted are those that contain information that cannot be provided to the public due to restrictions in place by other laws. Despite the few limitations, this information law is rarely utilized by the public due to it not being well known. Additionally, very few individuals are in place to receive any requests that could be submitted. Even though there are far less rules for what information can be disclosed, the lack of awareness heavily contributes to Albanian citizens not viewing official information as regularly as other nations. 

The Importance of the FOIA

The Freedom of Information Act is an essential component of ensuring that the public keeps its trust in the United States government. Without it, vital information about major historical events would not be accessible to modern citizens. Despite nations from all over the world having their own versions of providing the public with the freedom of information, the emphasis on remaining transparent is the same. Providing citizens with the ability to remain informed is extremely important for individuals as well as the government.