Wait and See
Sounds like a decent bill but the devil is in the details.
An effort to expand and simplify the "broken" freedom of information requests system in America has passed the US House of Representatives in a swift and unexpected approval yesterday. The legislation will make a number of critical changes, including the provision of a single online request point, a default of releasing …
I handle FOIs for a public sector organisation in the UK - we can't refuse on many grounds but that doesn't stop senior managers trying to fudge or complicate the answers as often as possible. The typical problem is how they are asked though, requestors leave too many doors open for management to use.
Top tips:
1. Keep it short,don't go after too much with one request. That opens up the old "cost too much" door and if the wording isn't specific enough you'll get inconsistent replies from different sources.
2. Supply a template and ask for it to be used. It may not always be possible but it allows you a stronger case with the ICO later (see later)..
3. Appeal if you aren't happy - In most cases these are considered by someone not involved in the initial request and I've seen about 1 in 10 be granted.
4. Do take it to the ICO if you aren't happy with the response or if even the appeal is refused. The ICO do force the release of information more often than people expect, but then they've usually asked the wrong question or for information that we don't fully hold and that's when they get garbage.
Ultimately it's usually people asking for too much or too many things in a single request which causes the problem.
your going to see a lot more of His Excellency's "in the interest of national security" notes come out for anything any Int office wants to refuse. he's been quite successful at using them in court cases to block the release of information DHS etc don't want to have to admit to. meaning anything illegal and/or embarrassing to the govt or it's friends. (damn. don't that just sound like some wackjob member of the tin foil hat brigade. need to stop reading that Snowden guy)