March 16th is Freedom of Information Day

Freedom of Information Day is an annual event dedicated to raise the profile of the principles of openness and transparency in civil administration.

The day is linked to the birthday of the fourth president of the USA James Madison, who was responsible for the introduction of the Bill of Rights, the constitutional document that protects individual freedom in US law.

Freedom of Information Day is marked by conferences and conventions that explore and debate the subject of Freedom of Information (known as FOI). This is regarded as an important discussion area by the legal community, the press, policy makers, and public interest groups.

The issues around FOI have changed considerably since the era of James Madison, and in contemporary politics new questions are being asked about what data national agencies holds on its citizens, how this data is obtained and how it is being used. As a subject of political debate, FOI has never been more topical.