E-FOIA - Uncle Sam Gets It Right!
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) enables the public to obtain information from the federal government to ascertain, as stated by the Supreme Court, “what the government is up to.” After all, a government shrouded in secrecy is not a government by the people and for the people. With the coming of the electronic age, Congress enacted electronic-related amendments (E-FOIA) in 1997. These amendments required federal agencies to make available important records online, provide specific guidance to citizens as to submitting information requests, and to implement information technology to post information proactively. The intent of E-FOIA was to increase public access to government information while at the same time reducing the burden created by FOIA requests. All well and good, right? Wrong! A recent audit by the National Security Archive paints a bleak picture of governmental non-compliance with E-FOIA a decade after its enactment.
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