Celebrate Freedom of Information Day Every March 16
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Fight for transparency in government on Freedom of Information Day.
As Americans we value our freedom. The freedom to say what we want. Freedom to practice whatever religion we please. And today we celebrate our right to free information.
Now “free” in this case means information must be freely available. Not necessarily free of charge.
And it’s an important right.
Without it the news media would have a lot less to report. And we’d know a lot less about what’s going on around us, both next door and across the world.
We celebrate Freedom of Information Day on the birthday of President James Madison (the 4th president of the United States of America).
Why? Because he believed strongly in openness in government and individual freedoms. He was key to drafting the US Constitution and is considered the “Father of the Constitution.”
He wrote the foundation for what would become the Bill of Rights, making sure to include the right to freedom of speech and protection from unreasonable search and seizure. He also sponsored the final version, adopted on September 25, 1789 and effective December 15, 1791.
President Madison would have been proud of the Freedom of Information Act, passed in 1966.
Freedom of Information Day also falls during Sunshine Week.
About Freedom of Information
Since the mid 1990s the internet has made information more freely available than ever. Some of it’s free in both availability and cost.
Yes, sometimes the information is less than reliable … Definitely a case of “you get what you pay for.”
But if you know where to look, you can find really good information free of any costs other than your time.
Other information is behind a pay wall. But in most cases the cost to access it is low. Certainly lower than most of your options just a few years ago.
Back in the “dark ages” you’d pretty much have had to hire somebody to find the information you needed. That’s a lot more expensive than a few dollars each month for unlimited access to years worth of information!
But despite all the information floating around the internet, there’s still a lot that’s just not there.
Now, we’re not entitled to see all of it. Private companies are allowed to keep things like trade secrets … Well, secret!
But most government information is not secret (or isn’t supposed to be).
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) states that everyone has the right to see almost any federal documents. There are a few very specific exemptions that protect certain sensitive documents from public access.
But these exemptions are clearly spelled out in the Act. And sensitive refers to things like national security. Not things that might be, for example, embarrassing to the government.
Anyone can file an FOIA request. And it’s supposed to be fulfilled within a reasonable time.
The FOIA doesn’t cover state or local governments, just the federal government. But states and local governments often have their own freedom of information laws. Again, anyone can request any information not protected under the laws.
Of course, sometimes government officials try to block requests. They claim that information is protected even when it’s not. But for the most part, the Act works like it’s supposed to. And we’re better informed because of it.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this holiday of freedom.
Celebrating Freedom of Information Day
Many schools (especially law colleges) and other organizations hold panels and presentations to help people understand their rights and freedoms under the Freedom of Information Act.
Check with schools in your area to see what they may be doing. Not all events are held on the 16th. Many are a few days earlier or later, often for scheduling reasons.
Check out the New York Public Library’s list of books to read for Freedom of Information Day. It’s from 2011, but it’s still completely relevant. The list includes fiction (1984 and Farenheit 451) along with nonfiction books about Wikileaks, the First Amendment and more.
Learn more about your right to information under FOIA and your right to privacy in this information age. Consider one of these books:
- A Citizen’s Guide on Using The Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act
- Controlling Knowledge: Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection in a Networked World
- Freedom of Information Act: Office of Government Information Services Has Begun Implementing Its Responsibilities, but Further Actions Are Needed
Have you ever considered filing an FOIA request? Anyone can do it! Learn more here.
And in the spirit of keeping information flowing freely, share information needed by family, friends and coworkers too. And if you don’t have the information, try to point them in the direction of someone who does (it could even be a government agency!).
[…] Freedom of Information Day: Remember, the public (that’s you!) can ask for information on almost anything the federal government does. And the government is required to hand it over (not that it always does …). Only a few things, like those that might affect national security, are off limits. Most states have similar laws. […]