{ "meta": { "version": "v0", "buildDate": "2026-06-23", "scope": "A reference map of national Right-to-Information / Freedom-of-Information laws: which countries have a statutory access-to-information law, its name, year of adoption, and oversight body. Public-domain legislative facts compiled from official legal sources. Contains ZERO personal data. Records the LAW, not any requester or official. Not a ranking — no proprietary RTI scores are reproduced.", "countryCount": 61, "byStatus": { "yes": 57, "no": 4 }, "earliestLaw": 1766, "latestLaw": 2021 }, "countries": [ { "country": "Argentina", "iso2": "AR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 27.275 de Derecho de Acceso a la Informacion Publica", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "Agencia de Acceso a la Informacion Publica (AAIP)", "accessNote": "Law 27.275, sanctioned in September 2016, guarantees the right of access to information held by the State, on a presumption of openness. Article 19 created the Agencia de Acceso a la Informacion Publica (AAIP) as the autonomous enforcement authority that receives complaints and oversees compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-27275-265949", "sourceTitle": "Argentina.gob.ar - Ley 27.275, Derecho de Acceso a la Informacion Publica (official registry)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Australia", "iso2": "AU", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth)", "yearAdopted": "1982", "oversightBody": "Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)", "accessNote": "The Commonwealth FOI Act 1982 gives a right of access to documents held by Australian Government agencies and ministers. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner provides regulatory oversight, handles complaints and conducts merits review of access decisions.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information", "sourceTitle": "Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - Freedom of Information", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Bangladesh", "iso2": "BD", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right to Information Act, 2009", "yearAdopted": "2009", "oversightBody": "Information Commission (Bangladesh)", "accessNote": "The Act gives citizens a right to information held by public, autonomous and certain private bodies receiving public funds. The independent Information Commission hears appeals and complaints and issues binding decisions, though commissioner posts have at times been left vacant.", "sourceUrl": "http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-1011.html", "sourceTitle": "Laws of Bangladesh - The Right to Information Act, 2009", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Brazil", "iso2": "BR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Lei de Acesso a Informacao (Lei no 12.527)", "yearAdopted": "2011", "oversightBody": "Controladoria-Geral da Uniao (CGU) for the federal executive; final appeals to the Comissao Mista de Reavaliacao de Informacoes", "accessNote": "Law No. 12.527, the Access to Information Law, was adopted in 2011 and entered into force in May 2012, granting a right of access to information held by public bodies at all levels. Within the federal executive branch the CGU acts as an appellate body, with a final tier before the Joint Committee for Reevaluation of Information.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2011-2014/2011/lei/l12527.htm", "sourceTitle": "Presidencia da Republica / Planalto - Lei no 12.527, de 18 de novembro de 2011 (official text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Bulgaria", "iso2": "BG", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Public Information Act", "yearAdopted": "2000", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (administrative courts; Ombudsman has limited role)", "accessNote": "The APIA entitles anyone to request information held by public authorities and bodies performing public functions, subject to exemptions. Bulgaria has no dedicated freedom-of-information commissioner; enforcement relies primarily on the administrative courts, with the Ombudsman able to recommend but not compel disclosure.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.mi.government.bg/file/2012/03/zdoi_en_02_2022.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Access to Public Information Act (English text, Bulgarian Ministry of Innovation)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Canada", "iso2": "CA", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Information Act", "yearAdopted": "1983", "oversightBody": "Information Commissioner of Canada", "accessNote": "The Access to Information Act came into force in 1983 and gives a right of access to records under the control of federal government institutions. The independent Information Commissioner of Canada, an officer of Parliament, investigates complaints and, following 2019 amendments, can issue binding orders subject to Federal Court review.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/canadas-access-information-system", "sourceTitle": "Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada - Canada's access to information system", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Chile", "iso2": "CL", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 20.285 sobre Acceso a la Informacion Publica", "yearAdopted": "2008", "oversightBody": "Consejo para la Transparencia", "accessNote": "Law 20.285, published in August 2008, regulates the principle of transparency and the right of access to information held by State Administration bodies. It created the autonomous Consejo para la Transparencia to promote transparency, supervise compliance, and resolve access disputes.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=276363", "sourceTitle": "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile - Ley 20.285 (official text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "China", "iso2": "CN", "hasLaw": "no", "lawName": "", "yearAdopted": "", "oversightBody": "none / courts only", "accessNote": "China has no national statutory access-to-information law and its Constitution does not establish such a right. Access rests on the Regulations on Open Government Information, an administrative regulation adopted in 2007 and revised in 2019, enforced through administrative channels and litigation rather than an independent commission.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2019-09-10/china-open-government-regulations-revised/", "sourceTitle": "Library of Congress - China: Open Government Regulations Revised", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Colombia", "iso2": "CO", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 1712 de 2014 (Ley de Transparencia y del Derecho de Acceso a la Informacion Publica Nacional)", "yearAdopted": "2014", "oversightBody": "Procuraduria General de la Nacion (sanctioning/oversight); policy led by the Secretaria de Transparencia of the Presidency", "accessNote": "Law 1712 of 2014 establishes the fundamental right of access to public information held by State bodies and others performing public functions. Oversight is shared: the Procuraduria General de la Nacion exercises disciplinary/sanctioning authority for non-compliance, while policy design and promotion sit with the Secretaria de Transparencia of the Presidency, coordinating with other agencies.", "sourceUrl": "http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_1712_2014.html", "sourceTitle": "Secretaria del Senado de Colombia - Ley 1712 de 2014 (official text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Czechia", "iso2": "CZ", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Act No. 106/1999 Coll. on Free Access to Information", "yearAdopted": "1999", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (superior administrative body and administrative courts)", "accessNote": "Adopted 11 May 1999, the Act applies to state agencies, self-government authorities and public institutions managing public funds, with disclosure the default. Appeals go to the superior administrative body and, ultimately, the administrative courts; there is no dedicated information commissioner.", "sourceUrl": "https://mv.gov.cz/mvcren/file/act-on-free-access-to-information-1999-pdf.aspx", "sourceTitle": "Act 106/1999 Coll. on Free Access to Information (Czech Ministry of the Interior English text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Estonia", "iso2": "EE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Public Information Act", "yearAdopted": "2000", "oversightBody": "Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate (Andmekaitse Inspektsioon)", "accessNote": "Holders of information must register and answer requests and proactively publish certain information. The Data Protection Inspectorate has a dual mandate as both the data-protection authority and the freedom-of-information regulator, exercising supervision over compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/514112013001/consolide", "sourceTitle": "Public Information Act (Riigi Teataja consolidated English text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Ethiopia", "iso2": "ET", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No. 590/2008", "yearAdopted": "2008", "oversightBody": "Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO)", "accessNote": "Adopted in December 2008, the proclamation governs the mass media and establishes a right of access to information held by public bodies, with exemptions. The Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman monitors implementation; a replacement access-to-information bill was in parliamentary review as of 2025 but the 2008 proclamation remained in force.", "sourceUrl": "https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=85148", "sourceTitle": "Ethiopia — Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No. 590/2008 (NATLEX/ILO)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Finland", "iso2": "FI", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999)", "yearAdopted": "1999", "oversightBody": "Parliamentary Ombudsman and Chancellor of Justice (general legality oversight; no dedicated information commissioner)", "accessNote": "The Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999) establishes that official documents are public unless specifically classified, giving everyone a right of access. Finland has no specialised information commissioner; the Parliamentary Ombudsman and Chancellor of Justice oversee public authorities and refusals are appealable to the administrative courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990621", "sourceTitle": "Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999) - Finlex", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "France", "iso2": "FR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Loi n° 78-753 du 17 juillet 1978 (access to administrative documents), now codified in the Code des relations entre le public et l'administration (CRPA)", "yearAdopted": "1978", "oversightBody": "Commission d'accès aux documents administratifs (CADA)", "accessNote": "Law 78-753 of 17 July 1978 established a right of access to administrative documents; since 2016 its provisions are codified in Book III of the Code des relations entre le public et l'administration. The independent CADA, created by the 1978 law, advises on and helps resolve refusals of access.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000339241", "sourceTitle": "Loi n° 78-753 du 17 juillet 1978 - Légifrance", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Georgia", "iso2": "GE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "General Administrative Code of Georgia, Chapter III (Freedom of Information)", "yearAdopted": "1999", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (courts; annual reporting to Parliament, President and Prime Minister)", "accessNote": "Freedom of information is regulated by Chapter 3 of the General Administrative Code, in force since 1999, allowing requests for public information from public institutions. There is no dedicated information commissioner (one has been proposed in reform drafts but not established as of 2026); oversight relies on the courts and annual compliance reporting to Parliament, the President and the Prime Minister.", "sourceUrl": "https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/16270", "sourceTitle": "General Administrative Code of Georgia (official English text, matsne.gov.ge)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Germany", "iso2": "DE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Informationsfreiheitsgesetz (IFG) - Freedom of Information Act", "yearAdopted": "2005", "oversightBody": "Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI)", "accessNote": "The federal IFG, enacted in 2005 and in force from 1 January 2006, grants everyone access to official information held by federal authorities. The BfDI acts as an ombudsman for freedom-of-information matters; the law applies only at the federal level, with most Länder having their own transparency or FOI laws.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ifg/", "sourceTitle": "Informationsfreiheitsgesetz (IFG) - Gesetze im Internet", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Ghana", "iso2": "GH", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989)", "yearAdopted": "2019", "oversightBody": "Right to Information Commission (RTIC)", "accessNote": "Gives substance to the constitutional right to information under Article 21(1)(f). Citizens may request information held by public (and some private) institutions, subject to exemptions. The Right to Information Commission promotes, monitors, and enforces the law and may impose fines for non-compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://ghalii.org/akn/gh/act/2019/989/eng@2019-05-24/source.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) — GhaLII", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Hungary", "iso2": "HU", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Act CXII of 2011 on the Right of Informational Self-Determination and on Freedom of Information", "yearAdopted": "2011", "oversightBody": "National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH)", "accessNote": "The combined Info Act covers both personal-data protection and access to data of public interest, allowing requests to public-task bodies. The NAIH supervises compliance and can issue notices and pursue enforcement; refusals are also actionable in court.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.naih.hu/files/Act-CXII-of-2011_EN_23June2016.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Act CXII of 2011 (NAIH official English text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "India", "iso2": "IN", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right to Information Act, 2005", "yearAdopted": "2005", "oversightBody": "Central Information Commission (and State Information Commissions)", "accessNote": "Any citizen may request information held by public authorities of central, state and local government. Appeals and complaints are heard by the Central Information Commission at the federal level and by State Information Commissions for state public authorities.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/2065", "sourceTitle": "India Code: Right to Information Act, 2005", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Indonesia", "iso2": "ID", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure (UU Keterbukaan Informasi Publik / UU KIP)", "yearAdopted": "2008", "oversightBody": "Komisi Informasi (Central Information Commission) and provincial/regency Information Commissions", "accessNote": "Enacted in 2008 and operational from 2010, the law gives every citizen the right to obtain public information from public bodies. Disputes over access are resolved by the independent Information Commission (Komisi Informasi), with judicial review available.", "sourceUrl": "https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=80282", "sourceTitle": "NATLEX (ILO) - Indonesia - The Openness of Public Information Law (No. 14 of 2008)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Ireland", "iso2": "IE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act 2014", "yearAdopted": "2014", "oversightBody": "Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC)", "accessNote": "The 2014 Act gives the public a right of access to records held by public bodies and bodies receiving significant state funding, replacing earlier 1997 and 2003 Acts. Decisions can be independently reviewed by the Office of the Information Commissioner.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/30/enacted/en/html", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Act 2014 - Irish Statute Book", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Israel", "iso2": "IL", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Law, 5758-1998", "yearAdopted": "1998", "oversightBody": "Supervisor for Implementation of the Freedom of Information Law (Freedom of Information Unit), Prime Minister's Office; courts on appeal", "accessNote": "Any Israeli citizen or resident may request information from a public authority; each authority appoints an officer to handle requests. The statute was enacted in 1998 and took effect in 1999. There is no single independent information commissioner, oversight runs through the government Supervisor unit and the courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/15370", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Law, 5758-1998, Israel (WIPO Lex)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Italy", "iso2": "IT", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Legislative Decree No. 33/2013 (generalized civic access / FOIA), as amended by Legislative Decree No. 97/2016", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC)", "accessNote": "Legislative Decree 33/2013, as amended by Decree 97/2016, introduced 'generalized civic access' (Italy's FOIA), giving anyone a right to data and documents held by public administrations beyond mandatory-publication items, operational from 23 December 2016. ANAC issues guidelines and oversees the transparency regime.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2013-03-14;33", "sourceTitle": "Decreto Legislativo 14 marzo 2013, n. 33 - Normattiva", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Jamaica", "iso2": "JM", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Information Act", "yearAdopted": "2002", "oversightBody": "Access to Information Unit (Office of the Prime Minister) and the Access to Information Appeal Tribunal", "accessNote": "The Access to Information Act was passed in 2002 and implemented on a phased basis from January 2004 through July 2005, giving the public a right of access to official documents held by public authorities. The Access to Information Unit administers the Act, and the Access to Information Appeal Tribunal hears appeals with binding decisions subject to Supreme Court review.", "sourceUrl": "https://laws.moj.gov.jm/library/statute/the-access-to-information-act/download", "sourceTitle": "Ministry of Justice, Jamaica - The Access to Information Act (official statute)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Japan", "iso2": "JP", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs (Act No. 42 of 1999)", "yearAdopted": "1999", "oversightBody": "Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Review Board (Information Disclosure Review Board); courts on appeal", "accessNote": "Adopted in 1999 and in force from 2001, the Act lets any person request administrative documents held by national administrative organs. Disclosure decisions can be challenged through administrative review, with advisory examination by the Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Review Board, and ultimately the courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4777/en", "sourceTitle": "Japanese Law Translation - Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Jordan", "iso2": "JO", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 47 of 2007 on Guaranteeing the Right to Obtain Information", "yearAdopted": "2007", "oversightBody": "Information Council (with the National Library / Information Commissioner role)", "accessNote": "Enacted in 2007, this was the first national access-to-information statute in the Arab world; an Information Council oversees its application. The law was amended in 2024. Access historically required showing a lawful interest, and Council decisions on complaints have been non-binding.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.rti-rating.org/wp-content/uploads/Jordan.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Law No. 47/2007 on Securing the Right to Information (full text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Kenya", "iso2": "KE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Information Act, 2016 (No. 31 of 2016)", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), which designates an Access to Information Commissioner", "accessNote": "Gives effect to Article 35 of the Constitution, granting citizens access to information held by the state and by certain private bodies. The Commission on Administrative Justice holds oversight and enforcement powers, with binding decisions on national and county governments.", "sourceUrl": "https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2016/31/eng@2022-12-31", "sourceTitle": "Access to Information Act, 2016 (No. 31 of 2016) — Kenya Law", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Lebanon", "iso2": "LB", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 28 of 2017 on the Right of Access to Information (amended by Law No. 233 of 2021)", "yearAdopted": "2017", "oversightBody": "National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)", "accessNote": "Passed in February 2017 as part of a set of anti-corruption laws and amended by Law No. 233 in 2021, which removed the requirement to state a reason for requests. Oversight and appeals are handled by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, whose access-to-information decisions are binding.", "sourceUrl": "https://nacc.gov.lb/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/P1E-Access-to-Information-Law-28.2017.pdf", "sourceTitle": "The Right of Access to Information Law, Law No. 28 dated 10/2/2017 (NACC)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Liberia", "iso2": "LR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act, 2010", "yearAdopted": "2010", "oversightBody": "Independent Information Commission (headed by the Independent Information Commissioner)", "accessNote": "The first freedom-of-information statute in West Africa, granting a right of access to public records subject to exemptions. The Independent Information Commissioner, appointed by the President with Senate consent, is the final administrative arbiter of access complaints and oversees compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.rti-rating.org/wp-content/uploads/Liberia.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Liberia Freedom of Information Act of 2010 (full text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Mexico", "iso2": "MX", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley General de Transparencia y Acceso a la Informacion Publica (LGTAIP)", "yearAdopted": "2015", "oversightBody": "Transparencia para el Pueblo (within the Secretaria Anticorrupcion y Buen Gobierno) - replaced the former INAI, dissolved in 2025", "accessNote": "The General Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information first took effect in 2015. A 2024-2025 constitutional reform abolished the autonomous guarantor INAI; a new General Law was published in March 2025, transferring oversight to a decentralized body, Transparencia para el Pueblo, under the federal Secretariat of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. The statutory right of access remains in force.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LGTAIP.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Camara de Diputados - Ley General de Transparencia y Acceso a la Informacion Publica (official text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Morocco", "iso2": "MA", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 31-13 on the Right of Access to Information", "yearAdopted": "2018", "oversightBody": "Commission for the Right of Access to Information (CDAI / Commission du droit d'acces a l'information)", "accessNote": "Promulgated and published in 2018 (implementing the constitutional right under the 2011 Constitution) and entered into force in March 2020. It grants access to Moroccan citizens and lawfully resident foreigners; the Commission for the Right of Access to Information oversees implementation, though its powers are largely advisory.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.law-democracy.org/news/morocco-analysis-of-law-no-31-13-on-the-right-of-access-to-information/", "sourceTitle": "Morocco: Analysis of Law No. 31-13 on the Right of Access to Information (Centre for Law and Democracy)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Nepal", "iso2": "NP", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007)", "yearAdopted": "2007", "oversightBody": "National Information Commission (Rastriya Suchana Aayog)", "accessNote": "Enacted in 2007 (2064 BS), the Act guarantees every citizen the right to information held by public bodies, with defined response timelines. The National Information Commission serves as the appellate and enforcement authority.", "sourceUrl": "https://lawcommission.gov.np/en/?p=17984", "sourceTitle": "Nepal Law Commission - Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Netherlands", "iso2": "NL", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Open Government Act (Wet open overheid, Woo)", "yearAdopted": "2021", "oversightBody": "Advisory Board on Open Government (Adviescollege Openbaarheid en Informatiehuishouding, ACOI); refusals appealable to administrative courts", "accessNote": "The Wet open overheid (Woo) was adopted in 2021 and entered into force on 1 May 2022, replacing the 1991 Government Information (Public Access) Act (Wob). It gives anyone a right to request government information and expands proactive publication; an advisory college monitors implementation, with decisions reviewable by the administrative courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0045754/", "sourceTitle": "Wet open overheid - wetten.overheid.nl", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "New Zealand", "iso2": "NZ", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Official Information Act 1982", "yearAdopted": "1982", "oversightBody": "Office of the Ombudsman", "accessNote": "The Act creates a public right of access to information held by central government bodies, on the principle that information be released unless there is good reason to withhold it. Refusals can be investigated by the Ombudsman, whose recommendations are normally binding.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1982/0156/latest/whole.html", "sourceTitle": "New Zealand Legislation - Official Information Act 1982 No 156", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Nigeria", "iso2": "NG", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act, 2011", "yearAdopted": "2011", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (no dedicated information commissioner; the Attorney-General of the Federation reports to the National Assembly and enforcement is via the Federal High Court)", "accessNote": "Establishes a right of any person to access records held by public institutions, with stated exemptions. No independent oversight commission exists; applicants enforce denials through the courts, and the Attorney-General files annual implementation reports to the National Assembly.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.cbn.gov.ng/foi/freedom%20of%20information%20act.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Act 2011, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Norway", "iso2": "NO", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) - Act No. 16 of 19 May 2006", "yearAdopted": "2006", "oversightBody": "Parliamentary Ombud (Sivilombudet)", "accessNote": "Offentleglova (Act No. 16 of 19 May 2006, in force from 1 January 2009) gives everyone a right of access to documents held by public authorities and certain public undertakings, replacing the 1970 Act. Refusals can be brought before the Parliamentary Ombud (Sivilombudet).", "sourceUrl": "https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2006-05-19-16", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) - Lovdata", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Pakistan", "iso2": "PK", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right of Access to Information Act, 2017", "yearAdopted": "2017", "oversightBody": "Pakistan Information Commission (federal; established 2018)", "accessNote": "The federal Act gives citizens a right to information held by public bodies of the Federal Government; provinces have their own separate laws. The Pakistan Information Commission, established in 2018, hears appeals and oversees implementation at the federal level.", "sourceUrl": "https://pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administrator3599d65bc5ecb2dd1915d04c7db91e8f.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Pakistan Code - The Right of Access to Information Act, 2017", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Peru", "iso2": "PE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 27806 de Transparencia y Acceso a la Informacion Publica", "yearAdopted": "2002", "oversightBody": "Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Informacion Publica (ANTAIP), with the Tribunal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Informacion Publica (TTAIP) deciding appeals", "accessNote": "Law 27806, adopted in 2002, regulates the constitutional right of access to public information on a presumption of publicity. Decreto Legislativo 1353 (2017) created the National Authority for Transparency (ANTAIP) within the Ministry of Justice to supervise compliance, and a specialized Transparency Tribunal (TTAIP) to resolve appeals.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.gob.pe/institucion/antaip/normas-legales/1130048-1353-autoridad-nacional-de-transparencia-y-acceso-a-la-informacion-publica", "sourceTitle": "Plataforma del Estado Peruano (gob.pe) - Decreto Legislativo 1353 creating ANTAIP; Ley 27806", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Philippines", "iso2": "PH", "hasLaw": "no", "lawName": "", "yearAdopted": "", "oversightBody": "none / courts only", "accessNote": "As of 2026 there is no national statutory FOI law in force. Access at the national level rests on Executive Order No. 2 (2016), which binds only the Executive branch. A People's Freedom of Information Act passed the Senate in May 2026 but had not yet been enacted into law.", "sourceUrl": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Information_Order_(Philippines)", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Order (Philippines) - Wikipedia", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Poland", "iso2": "PL", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Act on Access to Public Information", "yearAdopted": "2001", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (administrative courts)", "accessNote": "Anyone may request public information from public authorities and bodies performing public tasks, with a broad default of disclosure. Refusals are challenged through administrative appeal and the regional administrative courts; Poland has no dedicated information commissioner.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.global-regulation.com/translation/poland/2986180/the-act-of-6-september-2001-on-access-to-public-information.html", "sourceTitle": "Act of 6 September 2001 on Access to Public Information (English translation)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Portugal", "iso2": "PT", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Lei n.º 26/2016, de 22 de agosto (regime of access to administrative and environmental information / Lei de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos, LADA)", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "Comissão de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos (CADA)", "accessNote": "Law 26/2016 sets out the regime for access to and reuse of administrative and environmental information, continuing Portugal's open-administration tradition (earlier LADA laws date from 1993). The independent CADA, operating with Parliament, monitors compliance and issues (non-binding) opinions on access disputes, which can be challenged in the administrative courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.cada.pt/legislacao/lei-no-26-2016-de-22-de-agosto", "sourceTitle": "Lei n.º 26/2016, de 22 de agosto - CADA", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Romania", "iso2": "RO", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 544/2001 on Free Access to Information of Public Interest", "yearAdopted": "2001", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (administrative complaint and administrative courts)", "accessNote": "Adopted 12 October 2001, the law guarantees free access to information of public interest as a fundamental principle of relations between citizens and public authorities. There is no dedicated information commissioner; disputes go via administrative complaint and the administrative courts, while the personal-data authority only checks the Article 12 exemption.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.madr.ro/docs/english/law_544.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Law No. 544 of 12 October 2001 regarding the free access to information of public interest (English text)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Rwanda", "iso2": "RW", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 04/2013 of 08/02/2013 Relating to Access to Information", "yearAdopted": "2013", "oversightBody": "Office of the Ombudsman (monitors enforcement; the Media High Council also has a role in implementation)", "accessNote": "Grants any person access to information held by public organs and certain private bodies, generally without fees, subject to ministerial orders on national-security and proactively published information. The Office of the Ombudsman monitors enforcement of the law.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.rgb.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/RGB/Publications/LAWS_AND_REGULATIONS/LAW_ACCESS_TO_INFORMATION-08-02-2013.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Law N° 04/2013 of 08/02/2013 Relating to Access to Information — Official Gazette nº 10 of 11 March 2013", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Saudi Arabia", "iso2": "SA", "hasLaw": "no", "lawName": "", "yearAdopted": "", "oversightBody": "none / courts only", "accessNote": "There is no parliamentary access-to-information statute as of 2026. A Freedom of Information Policy and accompanying regulations issued administratively through the National Data Management Office under SDAIA govern requests for unprotected public information, but this is executive policy rather than a legislative right, with broad national-security exclusions.", "sourceUrl": "https://my.gov.sa/en/content/information-policy", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information (Saudi National Platform)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Serbia", "iso2": "RS", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance", "yearAdopted": "2004", "oversightBody": "Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection", "accessNote": "Adopted in 2004 (Official Gazette RS No. 120/04), the law lets anyone request information of public importance from public authorities. An autonomous Commissioner hears complaints and oversees compliance; the office later also assumed personal-data-protection duties.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.poverenik.rs/en/laws/143-law-on-free-access-to-information-of-public-importance-qofficial-gazette-rsq-no-12004.html", "sourceTitle": "Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance (Official Gazette RS No. 120/04) - Commissioner", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Sierra Leone", "iso2": "SL", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Right to Access Information Act, 2013 (No. 2 of 2013)", "yearAdopted": "2013", "oversightBody": "Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), established 2014", "accessNote": "Grants a right of access to information held by public authorities, with proactive-publication duties and stated exemptions. The Right to Access Information Commission, operational since 2014, receives and decides complaints, conducts investigations, and monitors compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2013-02.pdf", "sourceTitle": "The Right to Access Information Act, 2013 (No. 2 of 2013)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Slovenia", "iso2": "SI", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Public Information Act (Zakon o dostopu do informacij javnega znacaja)", "yearAdopted": "2003", "oversightBody": "Information Commissioner (Informacijski pooblascenec)", "accessNote": "Adopted 22 March 2003 (Official Gazette RS No. 24/2003), the Act gives everyone a right to request information held by public bodies, with disclosure the default. The autonomous Information Commissioner, established by a separate 2005 act, acts as the appeals and inspection authority.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.ip-rs.si/en/legislation/access-to-public-information-act/", "sourceTitle": "Access to Public Information Act - Information Commissioner of the Republic of Slovenia", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "South Africa", "iso2": "ZA", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), Act 2 of 2000", "yearAdopted": "2000", "oversightBody": "Information Regulator (South Africa) — assumed PAIA oversight from the South African Human Rights Commission on 1 July 2021", "accessNote": "Gives effect to the constitutional right of access to information held by the state and by private bodies where required to exercise or protect a right. Any person may request information; exemptions apply. Since 2021 the Information Regulator monitors and enforces compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.gov.za/documents/promotion-access-information-act", "sourceTitle": "Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 | South African Government", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "South Korea", "iso2": "KR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Official Information Disclosure Act (Act on the Disclosure of Information by Public Institutions)", "yearAdopted": "1996", "oversightBody": "Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Information Disclosure Committee (under that Ministry)", "accessNote": "Enacted in 1996 and in force from 1998, the Act guarantees the right to request information held by public institutions. Policy oversight and coordination rest with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety through the Information Disclosure Committee, with administrative appeals and court review available.", "sourceUrl": "https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?lang=ENG&hseq=29982", "sourceTitle": "Korea Law Translation (KLRI) - Official Information Disclosure Act", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Spain", "iso2": "ES", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 19/2013, de 9 de diciembre, de transparencia, acceso a la información pública y buen gobierno", "yearAdopted": "2013", "oversightBody": "Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno (Council for Transparency and Good Government)", "accessNote": "Law 19/2013 establishes a statutory right of access to public information and active-disclosure duties, applying to the central administration and (via cooperation agreements) other public bodies. The independent Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno handles complaints and promotes compliance, though several autonomous communities have their own transparency councils.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-12887", "sourceTitle": "Ley 19/2013, de 9 de diciembre, de transparencia - BOE", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Sweden", "iso2": "SE", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of the Press Act (Tryckfrihetsförordningen) - principle of public access to official documents", "yearAdopted": "1766", "oversightBody": "Parliamentary Ombudsman (Justitieombudsmannen / JO)", "accessNote": "The principle of public access to official documents has been part of Sweden's Freedom of the Press Act, one of its constitutional fundamental laws, since 1766 (the current Act dates from 1949 with later amendments). It gives everyone a directly enforceable right to access official records; the Parliamentary Ombudsman and Chancellor of Justice supervise authorities, with refusals appealable to the courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.riksdagen.se/en/how-the-riksdag-works/democracy/the-constitution/the-freedom-of-the-press-act/", "sourceTitle": "The Freedom of the Press Act - Sveriges Riksdag", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Switzerland", "iso2": "CH", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration (Freedom of Information Act, BGÖ / LTrans)", "yearAdopted": "2004", "oversightBody": "Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC / EDÖB / PFPDT)", "accessNote": "The federal Freedom of Information Act (BGÖ/LTrans), adopted on 17 December 2004 and in force from 1 July 2006, shifts the federal administration from a principle of secrecy to one of public access, giving everyone a right to official documents. The FDPIC acts as mediator and issues recommendations; the law covers federal bodies, while cantons regulate their own transparency.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2006/355/en", "sourceTitle": "Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration - Fedlex", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Tanzania", "iso2": "TZ", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Access to Information Act, 2016 (No. 6 of 2016)", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "none / courts only (no independent information commissioner; appeals lie to the Minister responsible for legal affairs, then to the courts)", "accessNote": "Enacted in 2016 and operational from July 2017, the Act grants access to information held by public authorities and some private bodies, subject to broad exemptions. There is no dedicated oversight commission; an aggrieved person appeals to the Minister responsible for legal affairs whose decision is final, with further recourse through the courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://tanzlii.org/en/akn/tz/act/2016/6/eng@2016-09-30", "sourceTitle": "Access to Information Act, 2016 (No. 6 of 2016) — TanzLII", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Thailand", "iso2": "TH", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Official Information Act, B.E. 2540 (1997)", "yearAdopted": "1997", "oversightBody": "Official Information Board / Office of the Official Information Commission (Office of the Prime Minister); Information Disclosure Tribunal on appeal", "accessNote": "The Act establishes a right to request official information from state agencies. The Official Information Board and its secretariat, the Office of the Official Information Commission, handle complaints, while appeals against non-disclosure go to the Information Disclosure Tribunal.", "sourceUrl": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha202814.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Official Information Act, B.E. 2540 (1997) - FAOLEX", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Tunisia", "iso2": "TN", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Organic Law No. 2016-22 of 24 March 2016 on the Right of Access to Information", "yearAdopted": "2016", "oversightBody": "Instance Nationale d'Accès à l'Information (INAI) — established Sept. 2017 but dissolved by the government in 2025 (offices quietly closed, staff reassigned); no functioning oversight body remains, leaving courts as the only recourse", "accessNote": "The 2016 organic law grants a right of access to information held by public bodies and entities receiving public funds, with response deadlines and exemptions. The independent oversight authority INAI was effectively shut down in 2025, so the statute remains on the books but lacks a functioning enforcement institution as of 2026.", "sourceUrl": "https://inai.tn/en/espace-acces-information/", "sourceTitle": "Access to Information Space — Instance Nationale d'Accès à l'Information (INAI)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Turkey", "iso2": "TR", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law No. 4982 on the Right to Information", "yearAdopted": "2003", "oversightBody": "Board of Review of Access to Information (Bilgi Edinme Degerlendirme Kurulu, BEDK)", "accessNote": "Adopted in 2003 (published in the Official Gazette on 24 October 2003) and in force from 2004; the right gained constitutional grounding in 2010. Public bodies must respond within set time limits, and the Board of Review of Access to Information evaluates objections to rejected or unanswered requests.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2003/en/74146", "sourceTitle": "Turkey: Law No. 4982 of 2003 on the Right to Information (Refworld)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Ukraine", "iso2": "UA", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Law of Ukraine On Access to Public Information", "yearAdopted": "2011", "oversightBody": "Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)", "accessNote": "Adopted 13 January 2011 and in force from 9 May 2011, the law gives a right to request information from managers of information (public bodies and others holding public information). Parliamentary control over the right is exercised by the Ombudsman; refusals can also be appealed to the courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.icnl.org/wp-content/uploads/Ukraine_access.pdf", "sourceTitle": "Law of Ukraine On Access to Public Information (English text, ICNL)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "United Arab Emirates", "iso2": "AE", "hasLaw": "no", "lawName": "", "yearAdopted": "", "oversightBody": "none / courts only", "accessNote": "There is no national statutory access-to-information law as of 2026. Access relies on a non-statutory federal Guide to Access Government Information and constitutional provisions, plus sector- and emirate-level measures such as Dubai's data publication law. No general right enforceable through an information commissioner exists.", "sourceUrl": "https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/digital-uae/regulatory-framework/citizens-right-to-access-government-information", "sourceTitle": "Citizens' right to access government information (Official Platform of the UAE Government)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "United Kingdom", "iso2": "GB", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act 2000", "yearAdopted": "2000", "oversightBody": "Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)", "accessNote": "The Act gives anyone a statutory right to request recorded information held by UK public authorities, subject to exemptions. It was enacted in 2000 and came fully into force on 1 January 2005; the ICO, independent of government, oversees compliance and can order disclosure. (Scotland has its own Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 with a separate Scottish Information Commissioner.)", "sourceUrl": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents", "sourceTitle": "Freedom of Information Act 2000 - legislation.gov.uk", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "United States", "iso2": "US", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)", "yearAdopted": "1966", "oversightBody": "Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration; enforcement ultimately via federal courts", "accessNote": "FOIA, enacted 1966 and effective 1967, gives any person the right to request records from federal executive-branch agencies, subject to nine exemptions. OGIS (created by the 2007 OPEN Government Act) offers mediation and reviews agency compliance, but binding review is through the federal courts.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.foia.gov/foia-statute.html", "sourceTitle": "FOIA.gov - Freedom of Information Act Statute (official U.S. government portal)", "confidence": "high" }, { "country": "Uruguay", "iso2": "UY", "hasLaw": "yes", "lawName": "Ley 18.381 de Derecho de Acceso a la Informacion Publica", "yearAdopted": "2008", "oversightBody": "Unidad de Acceso a la Informacion Publica (UAIP)", "accessNote": "Law 18.381, enacted in 2008, guarantees the right of any person to access public information held by State and non-State public bodies, without needing to state reasons. The Unidad de Acceso a la Informacion Publica (UAIP) controls implementation, advises public bodies, and oversees compliance.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/18381-2008", "sourceTitle": "IMPO (Centro de Informacion Oficial, Uruguay) - Ley No 18.381 (official text)", "confidence": "high" } ] }