Legislation on Freedom of Information : Trends and Standards
Coined at the dawn of the scientific age, Bacon's aphorism has taken on new meaning today, when government agencies have at their disposal massive amounts of information about nearly every aspect of modern life. Striking an appropriate balance...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2012
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/10/5179876/legislation-freedom-information-trends-standards http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11249 |
| Summary: | Coined at the dawn of the scientific
age, Bacon's aphorism has taken on new meaning today,
when government agencies have at their disposal massive
amounts of information about nearly every aspect of modern
life. Striking an appropriate balance between the power of
government and of citizens to control it demands widespread
access to government-held information. As a result there is
growing consensus that the right to information is a crucial
element of democratic, accountable, responsive government.
Recognition of this right has come swiftly. Just over a
decade ago it was guaranteed in only a handful of countries.
Now more than 50 countries have freedom of information laws,
and 15-20 more are considering them. Moreover, a growing
number of intergovernmental bodies-including the World Bank,
European Union, and United Nations Development
Programme-have such policies. |
|---|