Public Access to Government Information

Public access to government information refers to the right of citizens to obtain records, data, and documents held by government agencies. This transparency promotes accountability, informed decision-making, and public trust. Laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the U.S. establish procedures for requesting such information, encouraging openness while balancing privacy and security concerns. Essentially, it ensures that government operations are open to the public and that citizens can scrutinize how decisions are made and resources are used.