Government transparency has become a hot topic in the United States, a country where the right of access to public information faces constant challenges, regardless of the political party in power. In Maryland, a new bill pushed by Democrats would allow government agencies to reject information requests if they are deemed “harassing.” Meanwhile, under the administration of former President Donald Trump, significant reforms have been made that have limited access to public data, such as excluding the Government Efficiency Department from the Freedom of Information Act.
With the aim of combating mismanagement and opacity, every year during Sunshine Week, various organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, MuckRock, and AAN Publishers release a report known as “The Foilies.” In its tenth edition, this report highlights the most absurd and regrettable reactions to public records requests. Despite the challenges, some transparency advocates have achieved notable victories, such as the recent case of the Los Angeles Police Department, which had to compensate rights advocates and a journalist with $300,000 after losing a lawsuit related to the disclosure of officers’ photos.
Among the notable examples this year, the Rapides Parish School District tried to impose a $2 million charge for processing a basic information request. However, after criticism, the district was forced to waive these charges and provide a brief report of just nine pages. Other striking cases included the Massachusetts State Police, which requested $176,431 for reviewing documents on recruit dropout, and the Jefferson Parish district attorney, who demanded over $5,000 from a father for records related to his son’s death.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison was also at the center of controversy, as a journalist faced multiple denials of access to a contract between the institution and a sports consulting firm, resulting in legal confusion about the ownership of the document. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) received the “Fudged Up Beyond All Recognition Award” for redacting a fudge recipe shared by a former director, arguing that this information was confidential.
Additionally, the Virginia government was criticized for denying internal records requests about an educational program for military survivors, citing extensive interpretations of FOIA exceptions. In the judicial sphere, California and Nevada courts were also criticized for decisions that hinder public access to court hearings in records cases. Lastly, the NSA received the “No Tech Support Award” for its inability to locate a historic recording due to technical failures.
These incidents highlight not only the struggle for transparency but also the importance of citizens and media outlets continuing to advocate for their right to access public information.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
