Muqova rasmi Fotolia

Freedom of Information Legislation

Freedom of Information Act (2005)

After being narrowly approved by the Lower Chamber of Parliament (Bundestag) in early June 2005, Germany’s Freedom of information (FOI) Actwas voted on 8 July 2005 by the Bundesrat, published in the Federal Gazette on 13 September 2005 and came into force on 1 January 2006. The law provides the public with a general right to access Federal Government information. However, this general right is limited by a number of broadly defined exemptions, covering, for instance, security-sensitive issues, potential threats to public safety and even the 'fiscal interests of the Federal Government'. The legislation also contains an 'Internet clause' that will force federal administration bodies to make a number of items publicly available online. In extend to the legislation on federal level; certain Federal States also have their own Freedom of Information Legislation.