Is open, co-created, hyperlocal democracy really democratic?

A push towards democratic participation develops out of what we might call the logic of equality.”Robert A Dahl (2000)

Equality

Freedom

Free through sharing in setting the rules

Freedom through space for experiments of living

Freedom through choice in the marketplace

Inclusion

In decline?

Open against totalitarianism

Campaign for Freedom of Information

About u s » Campaigns »

Latest news FOI training Donate

History of freedom of information in the UKThe table below summarises some of the key dates in the history of FOI in the UK, starting

with the passage of the 1911 Official Secrets Act and ending with the full commencement of

the FOI

Act in January 2005. More detailed information about many of these topics is available by

clicking on some of the tags on the right of this page.

Sign up for CFOI news!

Email address:

Your email address

1911 Offic ial Secrets Act passed. Section 1 dealt w ith espionage. Section 2 made the unauthorised disclosure of anyinformation on any subject an offence.

An official report, the Franks report, calls for Section 2 to be abolished and replaced by a much narrower new law.

Sign up

1972

1977 Governmentintroduces to the so-called Croham Directive, named after the then head of the ciVil service, promising the release of background papers to policy decisions. In fact, very little was disclosed under it.

1978 A major attempt to introduce freedom of information legislation in the form of a private member's bil lintroduced by Clement Freud MP. The b ill, drawn up by the Outer Circle Policy Unit, had considerable Parliamentary support but fell when the 1979 election was called.

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets von @"CampaignFOI"

Recent Posts

1981 Another freedom ofinformation bil l, also drafted by the Outer Circle Policy Unit, was introduced by Frank Hooley MP. The bil l was opposed by the Conservative government and defeated at second reading.

• Campaign for Freedom of

Information celebrates 30th

anniversary - with Steve Bell cartoon

• Steve Bell CFOI 30th anniversary t

shirt

• FOI Act celebrates its

1Oth anniversary on

January 1

• MPs debate amendment to bring

contractors' information under

FOI Act

Joint NGO briefing on Part 4 of

the Criminal Justice and Courts

Bill

1984 A Freedom of Information Bill drafted by Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFOI)is introduced by David Steel MP.

DataProtectionActpassed - Openness against secrecyabout themselves on comput

1984 Local Government fAccess to Information\ Act oassed - result of a or ivate member's

1984

Openness against proprietary software: against lock-in & corporate control

Open questions

"Empowering the already empowered"

Equality | Freedom | Inclusion

Equality | Freedom | Inclusion

in the