TAG / TRANSPARENCY
RESULTS
VIOLATIONS
Silence as Policy: How the Columbia Journalism Review Protects Its Own and Abandons the Public
When conflicts of interest in major news coverage were exposed, CJR refused to respond, eroding public trust in media oversight.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Double-Edged Sword: AI Boosts FOIA Efficiency While Threatening Public Access
AI is speeding up FOIA responses, but may also be creating legal and ethical hazards that could undermine public requests and government accountability.
CORRUPTION
Arizona Officials Sued Over Withheld Records in Billion-Dollar Education Funding Scandal
Investigative journalists demand answers as officials dodge record requests on a program plagued by waste, secrecy and abuse—the very things freedom of information laws were created to uncover.
CORRUPTION
Australia Government Moves to Tighten Freedom of Information Law, Curtail Public Access
Transparency advocates say proposed FOI changes gut the public’s right to know and shield the government from scrutiny.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Public Official Found Guilty Under New York Freedom of Information Law
Saratoga Springs’ unusual prosecution underscores the importance of transparency—and the legal consequences for officials who disregard it.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Connecticut Agencies Caught Violating FOIA as Citizens Face Delays, Dodges and Fees
Despite a half-century-old FOIA law, citizens and journalists face months—even years—of stonewalling. Watchdogs warn government secrecy in the Nutmeg State threatens accountability and democracy itself.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Austria Ends a Century of Official Secrecy as New Freedom of Information Law Takes Effect
Austria now requires proactive disclosure of administrative documents, contracts and data after five generations of constitutionally enshrined secrecy.
CORRUPTION
Energy Department Sparks Uproar With New “Still Interested” FOIA Policy
The Department of Energy’s recent demand that requesters reconfirm their interest or face automatic closure is drawing fire from transparency advocates and raising legal alarms.
HUMAN RIGHTS
City of Richmond Faces Lawsuit After Ousting FOIA Watchdog
A whistleblower lawsuit claims Richmond officials ignored FOIA deadlines, ordered illegal delays and retaliated against the FOIA officer who spoke up. Now that former director is FOIAing them.
HUMAN RIGHTS
50 States of Disclosure: A State-by-State Road Trip Celebrating FOIA’s July 4 Anniversary
Nearly six decades on, FOIA remains a cornerstone of democracy—and despite delays, loopholes and denials in state laws, the fight for transparency endures.