The top data protection official in North Rhine-Westphalia called on the state government to move more quickly on further development of the Freedom of Information Act (IFG). “A review of the modern transparency elements for IFG announced in the coalition agreement is long overdue,” criticized state data protection official Bettina Gayk on the occasion of the upcoming International Day of the Right to Freedom of Information. “I don’t see any effort from the state government.”
According to the existing Freedom of Information Law, citizens have the right to receive official information from public bodies such as authorities, administrations and governments. Gayk demanded that the IFG be further developed into a transparency law. This requires authorities to actively provide information.
Rather than citizens having an obligation to collect, there should be an obligation for public authorities to deliver, Gayk said. “Steps like this encourage the democratic formation of opinion and will and allow better control over state actions.”
