TAG / FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

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.

Austria now requires proactive disclosure of administrative documents, contracts and data after five generations of constitutionally enshrined secrecy.

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.

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.

Nearly six decades on, FOIA remains a cornerstone of democracy—and despite delays, loopholes and denials in state laws, the fight for transparency endures.

From CIA fudge recipes to $2 million invoices for requests, public officials are making a mockery of transparency laws—often at the public’s expense.

West Virginia legislators are moving to exempt themselves from FOIA. If passed, the bill would end public accountability in the Mountain State.

Legislators have passed over 1,100 exemptions to Florida’s Sunshine Law. From Dale Earnhardt’s 2001 autopsy to the governor’s travel plans, the public are left in the dark.

Nine thousand dollars for a school bus video? That’s the price of government transparency in Virginia. Legislators killed a bill that would have brought costs in line.