I sent FOIs to UK government departments – then they shared my personal data
openDemocracy reporter Jenna Corderoy on her personal experiences of trying to prise information from an increasingly resistant government.
Stop the secrecy: save our Freedom of Information
The UK government is running a secretive unit inside Michael Gove’s Cabinet Office that’s been accused of ‘blacklisting’ journalists and blocking the release of ‘sensitive’ information. Experts say they’re breaking the law – and it’s an assault on our right to know what our government is doing.
We’re not going to let it stand. We’re launching a legal battle – but we also need a huge public outcry, showing that thousands back our call for transparency. Will you add your name?
To: Michael Gove, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office
- Come clean about the Clearing House.
- Stop profiling journalists and blocking 'sensitive' requests.
- Empower, fund and make the FOI regulator independent.
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Our investigations
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Published in:Dark Money Investigations: InvestigationUK government running ‘Orwellian’ unit to block release of ‘sensitive’ informationExclusive: Secretive Cabinet Office 'Clearing House' for Freedom of Information requests also accused of...
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Published in:Dark Money InvestigationsPioneering FOI peer calls for investigation into ‘Orwellian’ Cabinet Office unitLord Clark calls for inquiry in wake of openDemocracy’s revelations about the secretive unit ‘blacklisting’...
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Published in:Dark Money Investigations: OpinionFreedom of Information is broken – help us fix itWe’ve forced the government to obey the law on transparency, but it’s been a long fight. It shouldn’t be this way....
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Published in:Dark Money InvestigationsRevealed: the files that expose ERG as a militant “party within a party”Documents released following openDemocracy transparency victory reveal European Research Group’s “highly partial”...
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Published in:Dark Money Investigations: OpinionCynical British public bodies are denying our FOI rightsFreedom of Information is a powerful tool for citizens - but the UK's legislation needs to be amended to prevent...
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This report looks at the issue of worsening access to information in government.
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Published in: Dark Money Investigations: InvestigationRevealed: Government’s ‘Orwellian’ unit blocked infected blood scandal disclosureCampaigner whose father died of HIV calls secrecy ‘outrageous’; staff in Michael Gove’s Cabinet Office cited Chilcot...
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Published in: Dark Money Investigations: OpinionIs the government’s secretive ‘Clearing House’ lawful? An expert explainsWhen government departments share the names of people making freedom of information requests, they may be breaking...