United States: New Openness Policies

United States: ARTICLE 19 and Privacy International Welcome New Openness Policies

ARTICLE 19 and Privacy International (PI) welcome US President Barack Obama’s announcement on 21 January of new policies enhancing public access to government information, in one of his first official actions as President. These changes mark a significant departure from previous policies.

The new rules revise existing controls on access to government information under the Freedom of Information Act and the Presidential Records Act. They create a presumption in favour of disclosure and also encourage affirmative disclosure of information. They call for “creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government”.The Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act clearly sets out new standards that should be the benchmark for transparency:
In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve.
ARTICLE 19 and PI welcome President Obama’s initiative – on his first day in office – which recognises the importance of openness and reverses years of excessive secrecy. These changes are not only important to the US but to the global community, given the US’ importance in promoting openness. Other nations should take this opportunity to reaffirm their commitments to adopting easy-to-use, effective mechanisms to allow their citizens access to information.Dr Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director, said: “ARTICLE 19 and PI welcome President Obama’s commitment to transparency and openness. That it comes on the first full day of President Obama’s administration signals a new approach to government domestically in the US. It also marks a shift towards re-establishing the US position as a global leader in promoting human rights, good governance and democracy.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
• For more information: please contact Nicola Spurr, Senior Press Officer: ARTICLE 19 at nicola@article19.org or +44 20 7278 9292 or David Banisar, Deputy Director: Privacy International at privacyint@privacy.org or +44 20 8123 7933.• Privacy International (PI) is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations. PI is based in London, England, and has an office in Washington, D.C. We have campaigned across the world to protect people against intrusion by governments and corporations that seek to erode this fragile right. We believe that privacy forms part of the bedrock of freedoms, and our goal has always been to use every means to preserve it.