Freedom of Information - legislation that provides public access to government documents and records. Laws requiring government transparency and accountability to citizens.
Acronym for 'Freedom of Information,' with the concept emerging from Enlightenment ideas about government transparency. The first modern FOI law was passed in Sweden in 1766, with the U.S. following in 1966.
FOI laws represent a fundamental shift in the relationship between governments and citizens, recognizing that information belongs to the people. However, governments often exempt sensitive information, leading to ongoing debates about the balance between transparency and security.
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