Data Journalism Conversations
Episode 49: Conversation with Jenna Corderoy, Ken Foxe & Attila Biro
Sep 29, 2022
Journalists Jenna Corderoy, Ken Foxe, and Attila Biro discuss challenges with FOI requests in the UK, Ireland, and Romania. They share struggles with delayed responses, access restrictions, lack of enforcement, and threats to media freedom.
53:45
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Quick takeaways
- UK faces delays in processing FOI requests due to understaffing at ICO, leading to non-compliance with response timelines
- Ireland has more responsive public bodies to FOI requests but struggles with inconsistent decision-making and transparency challenges
Deep dives
Challenges of Freedom of Information in the UK
In the UK, obtaining freedom of information requests has become increasingly difficult with government departments commonly ignoring requests or delaying responses. The Information Commissioner's Office is understaffed and overworked, resulting in significant delays in processing complaints. Authorities are expected to respond to requests within 20 working days, extendable to 40 working days in specific cases. However, many departments fail to adhere to these timelines, leading to a deterioration in timely information disclosure over the years.
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