ICO's blog on its information rights work
23 Jan 2020 03:23 PM
Colleagues from the ICO’s access to information and compliance department share their experiences and involvement in raising awareness of our regulation of access to information legislation.
ICO attends the second ICIC FOI case handling workshop
Hosted by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, the annual workshop provides an opportunity for different jurisdictions across the globe to share working practices and ideas. ICO colleagues in attendance provide an overview of the event.
During the two day workshop a number of presentations, Q&A sessions, group discussions, and case studies took place and it was interesting to hear the similarities, but also the differences between the various information access regimes.
We delivered a presentation setting out our new ways of working sharing our new online complaint form, our early resolution pilot, and our draft service guide and service charter. We participated in some interesting group discussions on proactive disclosure, outsourcing, records management, and costs. We found a common theme was a number of the jurisdictions use our external FOI guidance to support the creation of their own lines to take and guidance. Our own guidance is beginning to be reviewed and updated, in line with ‘Opennness by Design: The Information Commissioner’s strategic plan 2019/20-2021/22’.
Many jurisdictions do not have provisions for authorities to refuse a request on the basis of the cost of complying with it. We were asked lots of questions regarding the application of section 12 FOIA in the UK and how we regulate public authorities’ use of this. We explained that when investigating a section 12 case we will usually require a public authority to complete a sampling exercise so that they have some evidence to base their cost estimate upon and to be able to demonstrate that the estimate is reasonable.
Update from our peers:
- The Freedom of Information Act 2018 will soon be enacted in Gibraltar. Some key differences to our legislation include applicants must be over 18 and a resident of Gibraltar, an applicant must specify that the request is being made under the Freedom of Information Act and there is an application fee for making a request. The legislation does not currently have a cost limit threshold (similar to section 12 FOIA) however this is currently under discussion.
- In Slovenia responses can be extended to 30 working days where ‘third party’ interests are involved to allow consultation on disclosure / the application of exceptions. When investigating complaints, Slovenian colleagues have the power to inspect and search premises and fines can be imposed if a body does not comply with an investigation or decision. There is no tribunal process to appeal a decision, if a body disagrees with a decision they can only challenge this through the courts.
- The Cayman Islands highlighted a real culture shift to a much more pro-active release of information such as travel expenses and meeting minutes. In this jurisdiction, it was however interesting to hear that requests can be made using pseudonyms and that 80% of requests come from the media.
- Hungary delivered an interesting presentation on the impact of the requirements of disclosure of information under other pieces of legislation and how this sits with its Freedom of Information law.
- The Philippines explained that despite not having FOI legislation, almost all agencies implemented FOI and that they are currently in the process of applying to join the ICIC.
Out attendance at this annual event provides us with an international platform to showcase the working of our office and promote best practice. Indeed it was encouraging to hear that a number of our colleagues across the globe use our guidance in their own policy formation. We also came away with interesting ideas to share across our own FOI Directorate.
The ICO has recently been accepted as a member of the ICIC – something that we would encourage all of our international colleagues to look into doing. Further information can be found on the ICIC website.
ICO accepted as an International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) member
2020 signals fifteen years since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came fully into effect. Gill Bull, the ICO’s Director of Freedom of Information Complaints and Compliance, notes a further milestone as the ICO is formally accepted as a member of the ICIC.
We’re delighted to start the decade by being formally accepted as a member to the ICIC, the global network that fosters the protection and promotion of access to information. Following on from the establishment of a the new formal governance framework for the ICIC, known as the Johannesburg Charter, it’s important for the ICO to play its part in this growing network.
Indeed in her recent speech for Mexico City’s National Transparency Week conference, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said:
“Access to information is a growing right. Data that UNESCO has compiled shows the number of states with Freedom of Information laws has risen by almost a third in the past five years.
“But it remains a fragile right. Statute, secrecy exemptions or under-use can all contribute to the erosion of that right. By sharing our experience and expertise internationally we guard against that.
“Such a responsibility is an important part of the work of the International Conference of Information Commissioners – the ICIC. The group brings together countries from all over the world, brought together to share best practice, to learn how we can improve, and to defend, promote, protect and develop access rights.
“Our role is to protect and promote access to public information around the world. We are a collective voice in the international community, raising awareness of issues that impact upon access to public information
“Crucially, we discuss how to bring information access statute to life. How do we make it work on the ground? How are we working with people requesting information, to make the process as straightforward as possible? How are we making sure this is a right available to every level of society and to every community?
“Because access to information is a human right, only where people believe it is their right to use.”
We look forward to working with our international colleagues in the pursuit of protecting and promoting access to public information. We also encourage other Information Commissioners to join the growing ranks of the ICIC. It’s easy to do and further information is on the ICIC website.
Access to Information in Turbulent Times
This is the first in a series of blog posts covering our regulation of access to information legislation. The first post is by Gill Bull, ICO’s Director of Freedom of Information Complaints and Compliance, who delivered the 2019 Bond Lecture at the British Records Association on 13 November 2019.
Last week, I was delighted to present the annual Maurice Bond lecture for the British Records Association at the Paul Mellon Centre in London. Maurice Bond was Clerk of the Records for the House of Lords Record Office from 1946-1981 and he is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential archival figures of the post-war period.
I wanted to use the lecture to reflect on the many intersections between the work of archivists and access to information within the context of ‘everyday FOI’. I also wanted to take a step back and reflect on how issues of trust and trustworthiness and the current public debate about the notion of kindness in public policy, relate to access to information.
And of course I began by challenging the view that access to information can be seen as a dry topic and one that is principally about systems. For me, this is about people. And rather than being just about the past, it is as much about the future. I spoke about the role that access to information has in creating trust and in democracy itself and quoted UNESCO’s Guy Berger who described access to information as an issue that “goes with the grain of history”.
I spoke about the ICO’s call for contractors carrying out public services to be held accountable under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations. The law has not kept pace with the way services are provided or with public expectations. Next year, 2020 will be the fifteenth year since the legislation came into force. It is inevitable that the environment in which the legislation operates has changed.
People must be able to feel that outsourced services are trustworthy. FOI can shine a spotlight and create the conditions for where it is reasonable for us to place our trust. It stands to reason that where that spotlight is not allowed to shine, trust is less likely to follow.
I questioned whether we need to develop some new framing for access to information rights. The information we hold as organisations isn’t ours. If we’re a public authority, it’s the public’s information and while there will always be a request and receive aspect of access to information rights, I queried whether we need to start talking about a more fundamental duty to provide information.
The full text of the lecture is available here, and it will also be published in the British Records Association journal.