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Civil society Implementation

AP tests freedom of information laws worldwide

Today, the AP launched its first findings in a global test of national (and EU) FOIA laws. Collected data and news stories can found on the AP’s facebook page.

Reporters evaluate regulations in 105 countries and EU.

The Associated Press this week will unveil the findings of the first worldwide test of freedom of information laws.
AP’s report, scheduled for release on Thursday, Nov. 17, follows months of investigation across 105 countries with right-to-know laws, along with the European Union, and interviews with freedom of information experts worldwide.

The story, written by Martha Mendoza and edited by Assistant International Editor Mary Rajkumar, is the second part of AP’s global freedom of information project. The first part, “Convicted for Terror,” which documented the number and nature of terrorism arrests and convictions worldwide since 9/11, was sent on Sept. 4.


“This week’s report on the effectiveness of freedom of information laws worldwide reflects AP’s commitment to government access and our aggressive use of FOI regulations in newsgathering,” said John Daniszewski, AP’s senior managing editor for international news and photos. “In many places, our reporting shows, government officials work to thwart transparency, and individuals who seek to use their rights to learn government secrets are subjected to persecution, including incarceration and physical violence.”

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Details of the AP’s worldwide FOI test can be found on their facebook page (no login required), and includes so far several EU member states such as the UK, Portugal, Italy, and Hungary.

(Reported adopted from the FOIANet listserv.)