Constitutional Provisions, Laws and Regulations

For lists of countries and territories with ATI/FOI/RTI laws, and those that are considered likely to pass bills soon, compiled by Dutch FOI expert Roger Vleugels, click here.

For a list compiled by the Justice Initiative of countries with Access to Information (ATI) Provisions in their National/Federal Laws (including 3 that only have provisions in their administrative codes), ATI regulations that are actionable (i.e., enforceable in court), and actionable constitutional provisions in the absence of an ATI law, click here.

Conversely, the fact that a country does not appear on this list does not mean that it has no access to information laws, only that we do not have links to or copies of them.

We have included official websites where we have them, but many links are to unofficial websites which we are well aware often include outdated texts, bad translations and simply incorrect information (e.g., re: date of adoption).

We aim to include only links to official sources; failing that, we aim to include after every link an indication as to whether or not it is an official source. In the text below, the reader may assume that versions posted on government websites (of parliament, Constitutional Court, or other body) are official versions, and that versions posted on legislationline.org and other non-governmental sites are not official.

Ultimately, we aim to post the following information for every country that has a constitutional, statutory or significant regulatory provision addressing access to public information.

• Constitution: date of adoption and entry into force (if different), numbers (or other designations) of articles that refer to access to information (including a right to, or freedom of, environmental, personal, or other information), links to both the original and the English versions (official sources).
• ATI Law: the name of the law with dates of adoption and entry into force, in original language and English translation, with links to both, preferably to a consolidated version incorporating all amendments currently in force, and where not available, indication of lack of availability of a consolidated version. Most consolidated versions make reference to amendments, but if not, we will reference and link to these separately, especially where the amendment may be of interest to advocates in other countries.[1]
• ATI draft Laws in original and English translation, if available and with links to both.
• Implementing regulations in original and English translation, with links to both.[2]
• State secrets laws.
• Data protection laws.
• Archives laws.
• Environmental ATI laws.
• Most relevant sectoral ATI laws (consumer-related issues, police records, commercial interests, etc).
• Administrative procedure codes or rules, relevant provisions (e.g., concerning the filing of appeals or petitions).
• Laws and regulations governing access to legislative information.
• Laws and regulations governing access to judicial information.

We have included links to the laws of some territories and provinces under the heading of the national state to which the territory or province belongs. We will consider adding more such links over time.

**

We welcome better weblinks, corrected and updated information, and references to or hard copy versions of additional laws.

Please send us whatever corrections and additions you have.

**

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Model Laws

• Article 19, Freedom of Information Model Law, 2001
• CHRI, Model Freedom of Information Act, 2002
• Draft Model Law for African Union Member States on Access to Information, 2010 (in French)
• Organization of American States, Model Inter-American Law on Access to Public Information, 2010 (in Spanish)

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Afghanistan

• Constitution, 2003, Article 50
• Law on Mass Media, Article 5

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Albania

• Constitution, 1998, Article 23 (official source)
• Law on the Protection of Personal Data
• Law on the Right to Information on Official Documents, 1999; other source
• Law on State Secrets (excerpts)

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Angola

• Law on Access to Administrative Documents, No. 11/02, 2002 (in Portuguese)

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Antigua & Barbuda

• Freedom of Information Act, 2004 (official source)

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Argentina

• Buenos Aires City Law, 1998 (Spanish version)
• Código Nacional Electoral (National Electoral Code) (Spanish version)
• Constitution, 1994 (in English). The Argentine constitution does not include an explicit right to access public information but Article 75, clause 22 gives international treaties ratified by Argentina, precedence over national laws.
• Decree on Access to Public Information, No. 1172, 2003 (Spanish version)
• Law on Democratization of Political Representation, Transparency and Electoral Fairness (Ley de Democratización de la Representación Política, Transparencia y Equidad Electoral, 26.571) (Spanish version)
• Law Establishing Access to Environmental Information (Spanish version)
• Law on Financing of Political Parties (Ley de Financiamiento de los Partidos Políticos, 26.215) (Spanish version)
• Law of Public Ethic, 1999 (Spanish version)
• Organic Law of Political Parties (Ley Orgánica de Partidos Políticos, 23.298) (Spanish version)
• Other FOI related legislation

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Armenia

• Civil Code, Article 141 (regarding trade secrets)
• Constitution, 2005, Article 27, (Constitutional Court website, official)
• Law on Dissemination of Mass Information
• Law on Freedom of Information, 2003; other source
• Law on Personal Data, 2002

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Australia

• Archives Act, 1983
• Australian Information Commissioner Act, 2010
• Freedom of Information Act, 1982
• Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Act, 2010
• National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act, 2004
• Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act, 2000

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Austria

• Duty to Grant Information Act, 1988, 2006 (Federal Fundamental Act of 15th May 1987 on the Duty to Grant Information on the Part of the Administration of the Federation and on a Modification of the Federal Ministries Act 1986), (official source, in English)
• Federal Act concerning Protection of Personal Data, 1999 (in English and German)
• Federal Constitutional Laws, Article 20(3) and (4), (Constitutional Court website, official source)
• Federal Fundamental Act on the Duty to Grant Information (on the part of the administration of the Laender and the municipalities), 1987 entered into force 1988, (official source, in German), (official source, in English)

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Azerbaijan

• Constitution, 1995 Article 50(1), (official source, in English)
• Law on Information, Informatization and Protection of Information, 1998
• Law on the Right to Obtain Information, 2005

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Bangladesh

• Right to Information Act, 2009 (unofficial source)
• Right to Information Ordinance, 2008

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Belgium

• Act on the Protection of Privacy in Relation to the Processing of Personal Data, 1992, 2008
• Constitution, 1831 Article 32, (official source)
• Law Regarding Public Access to Environmental Information
• Law Relating to Classification and to Authorization of Security, 1998
• Law on the Right of Access to Administrative Documents held by Federal Public Authorities, 1994, 2000 (in French and German); other source

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Belize

• Archives Act, 2000
• Freedom of Information Act, 1994; other source
• Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, 2000

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Bermuda

• Public Access to Information Act, 2005

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Bhutan

• Constitution, Article 7(3)

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Bolivia

• Supreme Decree No. 28168, 2005 (in Spanish)

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Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Freedom of Access to Information Act, 2000
• Freedom of Access to Information Act for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2001(unofficial translation)
• Freedom of Access to Information Act for the Republica Srpska, 2001
• Law on the Protection of Personal Data, 2001

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Brazil

• Constitution, 1988 Article 5, paragraph XIV
• Access to Information Law, 2011

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Bulgaria

• Access to Public Information Act, 2000
• Administrative Procedure Law
• Constitution, 1991 as amended through 2007, Article 41, (website of the Bulgarian National Assembly, official source)
• Electoral Code, 2011 (website of the Venice Commission)
• Environmental Protection Act, 2002
• Law for the Supreme Administrative Court
• Personal Data Protection Act, 2002, 2006; other source
• Political Parties Act, 2009
• Protection of Classified Information Act, 2002, 2004
• Protection of Fair Competition Act (gives definition of trade secret)

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Burkina Faso

• Code de l'Information, 1993 (French)

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Canada

• Access to Information Act, 1983, with amendments through July 2008 (Information Commissioner site, official, consolidated text, in English & French); other source
• Access to Information Regulations (official source)
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982
• Federal Accountability Act, 2006
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Privacy Act, 1985; other source

Alberta

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1994
• Health Information Act, 2000
• Personal Information Protection Act, 2003

British Columbia

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1996
• Personal Information Protection Act, 2003

Manitoba

• Access and Privacy Regulation, 1998
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1997
• Personal Health Information Act, 1997
• Personal Health Information Regulation, 1997

New Brunswick

• Protection of Personal Information Act, 1998
• Right to Information Act, 1978

Newfoundland & Labrador

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2002
• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Regulation, 2007
• Fee Schedule for Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2005
• Personal Health Information Act, 2008 (not yet proclaimed)
• Personal Health Information Regulation, 2009
• Regional Health Authorities Act
• Regional Health Authorities Regulations

Northwest Territories

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1994 (in English and French)
• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Regulations, 1996 (in English and French)

Nova Scotia

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1993
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privact Regulation
• Introductory Guide to Part XX Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
• Part XX of the Municipal Government Act, 1998
• Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act, 2006

Nunavut (Territory)

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Ontario

• Courts of Justice Act, 1990 (in English, in French). C.43 makes court documents publicly available unless specifically ordered to the contrary
• Election Act, 1990 (in English, in French)
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990
• Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (in English, in French). Makes information about political contributors accessible
• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990
• Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (in English, in French). Schedule A, gives individuals the right to access records of their personal heath information

Prince Edward Island

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2002
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act General Regulations

Quebec

• Act Respecting Access to Documents held by Public Bodies and the Protection of Personal Information (in English, in French)
• Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector (in English, in French)
• Regulation Respecting Fees for the Transcription, Reproduction or Transmission of Documents or Personal Information
• Regulation Respecting Public Bodies that must Refuse to Release or to Confirm the Existance of Certain Information
• Rules of Proof and Procedure before the Commission de l'acces a l'information

Saskatchewan

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990
• Health Information Protection Act, 1999
• Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990

Yukon (Territory)

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (English and French)

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Cape Verde

• Constitution, 2010, Article 245(d)

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Chile

• Constitution, 1980, Article 19(12) and 2005 Amendment Article 8 (in Spanish); (in English)
• Law on Transparency and Access to Information, 2008 (in Spanish)

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China

• Provisions of the People’s Republic of China on the Disclosure of Government Information, 2007 adopted by the State Council January 17, 2007, effective May 1, 2008 (unofficial translation); other source (in Chinese)

Hong Kong

• The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Article 27
• Code on Access to Information

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Colombia

• Constitution, 1991, Articles 20, 23 and 74 (in Spanish)
• General Law of Public Archives, 2000 (in Spanish)
• Law Ordering the Publicity of Official Acts and Documents, 1985 (in Spanish); other source (in Spanish)

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Commonwealth

• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, constitutional provisions and laws of 53 countries

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Cook Islands

• Official Information Act, adopted February 2008 based largely on the NZ Official Information Act

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Costa Rica

• Constitution, 1949, Article 30 (in Spanish, in English)

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Croatia

• Act on the Protection of Personal Data, 2003
• Act on the Right of Access to Information, 2003
• Archives and Archival Institutions Act
• Data Secrecy Law
• General Administrative Procedure Law
• Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011

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Czech Republic

• Act on the Protection of Classified Information
• Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, 1993, Article 17
• Law on Access to Information on the Environment, No. 123, 13 May 1998
• Law on Free Access to Information, 1993
• Personal Data Protection Act

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Democratic Republic of Congo

• Constitution, 2006, Article 24 (in French)

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Denmark

• Access to Public Administration Files Act, 1985; other source
• Act on Processing Personal Data
• Act on the Re-use of Public Information Act
• Public Administration Act

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Dominican Republic

• Law on Access to Information, 2004 (in Spanish)

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Ecuador

• Constitution, 1998, Article 81 (in Spanish)
• Organic Law on Transparency and Access to Information, 2004 (in Spanish)

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Estonia

• Anti-Corruption Act (in Estonian); (older version in English)
• Archives Act, 1998
• Constitution, 1992, Article 44 (official source)
• Environmental Register Act, 2002 entered into force 2003; other source
• Personal Data Protection Act
• Public Information Act, 2000
• State Secrets Act
• Surveillance Act, 1994

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Ethiopia

• Constitution, 1994, Article 29
• Law on Mass Media and Freedom, 2008

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Fiji

• Constitution, 1997, Articles 30 and 174

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Finland

• Act on Openness of Government Activities, 1951, 1999 (in Finish)
• Archives Act, 1994
• Constitution, 1999, Section 12
• Decree on the Openness of Government Activities and on Good Practice in Information Management, 1999

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France

• Act on Archives, 1979
• Act No. 78-17 on Data Processing, Data Files and Individual Liberties, 1978 (Amended by the Act of 5 August 2004 relating to the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data)
• Act No. 78-753 on Various Measures for Improved Relations between the Civil Service and the Public and on Various Arrangements of an Administrative, Social and Fiscal Nature, 1978 (Official Journal of 18 July 1978, page 2,851) as amended by Law No. 2000-321 of 12 April 2000 (consolidated text) (excerpts; in French); other source (in French)
• Constitution, 1958 (official source)
• Decree No. 2005-1755 on Freedom of Access to Administrative Documents and the Reuse of Public Information, 2005 (in French)

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Georgia

• Constitution, 1995, as amended through 2006, Article 24 and 41 (official source); other source
• General Administrative Code
• Law on Freedom of Information, 1998
• Law on State Secrets

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Germany

• Administrative Procedures Law
• Environmental Information Act, 1994; other source
• Federal Act Governing Access to Information held by the Federal Government (Freedom of Information Act), of 5 September 2005, (in German, official source; in English)
• Federal Data Protection Act
• Stasi Records Act

Berlin

• Law for the Promotion of Freedom of Inoformation in the State of Berlin, 1999 (German); other source
• Law on the Protection of Personal Data (German)

Brandenburg

• Inspection of Records and Access to Information Act, 2003 (German; in English)

Bremen

• Law on Access to Information in the State of Bremen, 2006 (German)

Hamburg

• Access to Information Law, 2006 (German)

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

• Law Regulating Access to Information for the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 2006 (German)

Nordrhein-Westfalen

• Law on Freedom of Access to Information for the State of Northrhine-Westphalia, 2001 (German)

Saarland

• Saarland Information Act, 2006 (German); other source

Sachsen-Anhalt

• Information Act of Sachsen-Anhalt, 2008 (German)

Schleswig-Holstein

• Freedom of Information Act for the State of Schleswig-Holstein, 2000 (German); and (English)

Thüringen

• Information Act of Thüringen, 2007 (German)

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Ghana

• Constitution, 1992, Article 21 (official source)

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Greece

• Administrative Procedure Code
• Constitution, 2001, Article 5A (unofficial source)
• Law on the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data

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Guatemala

• Law for Free Access to Public Information, 2008 (Spanish)

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Guinea

• Organic Law on the Right of Access to Public Information, 2010

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Honduras

• Constitution, 1982, with reforms through 2006 (Spanish)
• Transparency and Access to Public Information Law (Ley de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública), 2006 (Spanish)

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Hungary

• Act IV Civil Code, 1959, Art. 81 (business secret exemption)
• Act XXIV on the Amendment of Certain Acts on the Use of Public Moneys and on Disclosure, Transparency and Increased Control in regards to the use of Public Property, 2003
• Act XXXIV on Police (public security exemption), 1994
• Act XXXVIII on Public Finance, 1992, Art. 15/A and 15/B (proactive FOI - public funds)
• Act LIII on General Rules of Environmental Protection, 1995 (Hungarian)
• Act LX on Insurance Companies and Activities (insurance secret exemption), 2003
• Act LXIII on the Protection of Personal Data and Publicity of Data of Public Interest, 1992; other source
• Act LXV on Local Governments, 1990
• Act LXV on State and Service Secrets (state secret exemption), 1995
• Act LXVI on Public Records, Public Archives, and the Protection of Private Archive, 1995; other source
• Act XC on the Freedom of Information by Electronic Means, 2005;
• Act CXII on Credit Institutions and Financial Enterprises (bank secret exemption), 1992
• Act CXX on Capital Market (business and securities secret exemption), 2001
• Act CXXV on National Security Agencies (national security exemption), 1995
• Act CXXIX on Public Procurement, 2003
• The Fundamental Law of Hungary, 2011, Article VI (2) (Constitutional Court website) (Hungarian); and (English)

Iceland

• Data Protection Act
• Information Act, 1996; other source (with amendments, unofficial translation of October 2007)
• National Archives Act, 1985; other source

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India

• Constitution, Article 19(1)
• Official Secrets Act, 1923
• Public Records Act (official source)
• Right to Information Act, 2005 (official source)
• The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973

  Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009
• Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Rules, 2010

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Indonesia

• Public Information Disclosure Act, 2008

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Ireland

• Data Protection Act, 1998 (official source); other soutce
• Data Protection (Amendment) Act, 2003 (official source)
• European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations, 2007
• European Communities (Re-Use of Public Sector Information) Regulations, 2005
• Freedom of Information Act, 1997 (official source); other source; other source
• Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act, 2003 (official source)
• National Archives Act (official source)
• Official Secrets Act (official source); other source
• Regulations made under the FOI Acts (official source)

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Israel

• Freedom of Information Law, 1998 (5758) adopted May 17, 1998, entered into force May 29, 1999, with amendments: 2002 on Exclusion of certain security units from scope of the law; 2005 on Proactive disclosure of environmental information held by public authorites; 2007 on Inclusion of Government-owned corporations in the scope of the law, (official source, Hebrew); English version (official source, original act without amendments, no English version on the internet)
• Freedom of Information Regulations, 1999 (Hebrew, official source); English version (unofficial source, without amendments, but there have been only technical amendments)
• Freedom of Information Regulations (Fees), 1999 (Hebrew, official source); English version
• Patient’s Rights Law
• Protection of Privacy Law

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Italy

• Decreto legislativo 30 giugno, n. 196 Codice in Materia di Protezione dei Dati, Personali, 2003 (Italian, consolidated text, official Source); Personal Data Protection Code, Legislative Decree No. 196 of 30 June 2003 (in English)
• Garante Privacy Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri 10 marzo 1999, n. 294. Regolamento recante norme per la disciplina delle categorie di documenti in possesso degli organismi di informazione e di sicurezza sottratti al diritto di acceso ai documenti administrativi, in attuazione dell`articolo 24, c.4 della legge 7 agosto 1990, n. 241
• Law No. 15, 11 February 2005 (Italian)
• Legge n. 124, Sistema di informazione per la sicurezza della Repubblica e nuova disciplina del segreto, 3 Augusto 2007. Law No. 124 of 3 August 2007 reformed the secret services and the regime of state secrets in order to counter terrorism (Italian version, official source)
• Legge n. 241/90 in materia de procedimento administrativo e di diritto di acceso ai documenti administrativi. Law No. 241/90 on administrative procedure and the right of access to administrative documents – Arts. 22 to 28 (Italian)

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Jamaica

• Access to Information Act, No. 21, 2002
• Archives Act
• The Access to Information Regulations, No. 3, 2003

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Japan

• Act on the Protection of Personal Information
• Law Concerning Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs, 1999

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Jordan

• Access to Information Law, 2007
• Protection of the State Secrets Law, 1971

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Kazakhstan

• Constitution, August 30, 1995, as amended by Law No. 284 of 7th October 1998, Articles 18, 20 and 31

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Kenya

• Constitution, 2010 (official source)

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Kosovo

• Law on Access to Public Documents, 2010

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Kyrgyzstan

• Law on Access to Information Held by State Bodies and Local Self-Government Bodies, 2007 (Article 19's analysis of the law with the draft version of the law attached. The adopted law is identical to the draft)
• Law on Mass Media

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Latvia

• Administrative procedure law (procedural rights of parties)
• Commercial law (definition of commercial secrets – different to that in FOIA)
• Criminal procedure law (procedural rights of parties)
• Freedom of Information Law, 1998
• Law on Archives
• Law on Environmental Protection (all rights in the Aarhus Convention)
• Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) (Latvian version)
• Law on Judicial Power establishes special procedures pertaining to access to judicial decisions
• Law on Official Secrets
• Law on Political Parties (Latvian version)
• Law “On public procurement” – regarding information on the announcements of public procurement as well as information on finished procurement actions, as well as the complaint procedure (Latvian version)
• Personal Data Protection Law, 2000; other source

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Liberia

• Freedom of Information Act, 2010

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Liechtenstein

• Data Protection Act, 2002
• Law on Public Information, 1999 (German version)

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Lithuania

• Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, adopted by citizens in the Referendum of 25 October 1992 (official source, in Lithuanian and English).
• Law on Documents and Archives, 1995 (Lithuanian version)
• Law on Legal Protection of Personal Data (Lithuanian version)
• Law on Provision of Information to the Public, 1996, 2000
• Law on the Right to Obtain Information from State and Municipal Agencies (Lithuanian version)
• Law on State Secrets and Official Secrets, 1999 amended 2001 (Lithuanian version)
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Luxembourg

• Draft law on access to information, 1999-2000 (French version).

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Macedonia

• Constitution, 1991, amended 1992, Article 16 (2) and (3), (English, Assembly’s official website); (Macedonian, official website)
• Law on Civil Servants
• Law on Classified Information, 2004
• Law on Free Access to Information of Public Character, 2006; other source
• Law on General Administrative Procedure
• Law on Personal Data Protection, 2005

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Madagascar

• Constitution, 1992

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Malawi

• Constitution, 1994, Article 37

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Maldives

• Constitution, 2008, Article 29

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Mali

• Decree on the Application of the Law on the Relation Between the Administration and the Users of Public Service, No. 03-580, 2003 (in French)
• Law on the Relation Between the Administration and the Users of the Public Service, 1998 (in French)

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Mexico

• Constitution, 1917, Article 6 (in Spanish)
• Federal Transparency and Access to Public Government Information Law, 2002; other source (in Spanish)
• State ATI Laws

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Mongolia

• Constitution, 2006
• Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information, 2011

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Moldova

• Constitution, 1994, Article 34
• Law on Access to Information, 2000; other source (in Moldovian)
• Law on Commercial Secrets (Romanian)
• Law on Protection of Private Data, 2007 (Romanian); (in English, in Russian)
• Law on State Secrets, 1994
• Law on Transparency in the Decision-Making Process, 2008

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Montenegro

• Constitution, adopted October 2007, Art. 51
• Law on Free Access to Information
• Law on General Administrative Procedure

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Morocco

• Constitution, 2011(in French, official source)

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Mozambique

• Constitution, 1990, Article 74 (in Portuguese); (in English, unofficial website)

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Nepal

• Constitution, 2007, Article 27 (unofficial website)
• Kathmandu Declaration, 2011
• Memorandum on the Right to Information Act of the State of Nepal, January 2008, Freedom Forum, Article 19, FNJ
• Political Parties Act, 2058 (2002)
• Right to Information Act, 2007, and Right to Information Rule, 2009 (official Translation)

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Netherlands

• Act on Public Access to Government Information, 1978.[3]
• Constitution, 2002, Article 110
• General Administrative Law Act
• Personal Data Protection Act

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New Zealand

• Bill of Rights, 1990, Article 14
• Criminal Proceedings and High Court Rules
• Local Government Act
• Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, 1987
• Official Information Act, 1982
• Privacy Act
• Public Records Act
• Resource Management Act

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Niger

• Law on Access to Public Information and Administrative Documents, 2011 (in French)

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Nigeria

• Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007
• Freedom of Information Law, 2011
• National Archives Decree, 1992
• National Inland Waterways Authority Act, 1996
• Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act, 2007
• Public Procurement Act, 2007

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Nicaragua

• Constitution, 1987, Article 26 and 66 (in Spanish); (selected provisions in English, unofficial website)
• Law on Access to Public Information, 2007 (Spanish, official source);

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Norway

• Act relating to Public Access to Documents in the Public Administration, No. 69, 19 June 1970, as amended 1997; other source (as amended 2003)
• Act relating to the Right of Access to Documents held by Public Authorities and Public Undertakings (short title: Freedom of Information Act), No. 16, 19 May 2006 (in Norwegian)
• Constitution, 1814, Article 100 (unofficial website)
• Personal Data Act, 2000
• Security Act, 1998

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Pacific

• Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute

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Pakistan

• Constitution, 1973, Article 19; other source (Eighteenth Amendment 2010, insertion of Article 19A, official source); other source, Articles 19 and 19A (with amendments of 2010); other source (Part II, Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy) Articles 19 and 19 A; other source
• Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002

Sindh

• Freedom of Information Bill, 2006

Balochistan

• Freedom of Information Act, 2005

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Panama

• Constitution, 1972, with amendments through 2004, Articles 42-44 (in Spanish)
• Law on Transparency in Public Administration, 2002 (in Spanish)

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Papua New Guinea

• Constitution, Article 51

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Paraguay

• Constitution, 1992, Articles 28-29 (in Spanish, unofficial website); (in English, unofficial website)

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Peru

• Constitution, 1993, Article 2(5) (in Spanish); other source
• Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information, 2002 (in Spanish); (in English)

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Philippines

• Constitution, 1987, Article III, Section 7
• Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Republic Act 6713, 1989

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Poland

• Act on Access to Public Information, 6 September 2001
• Act on the Protection of Personal Data, 1997
• Classified Information Protection Act, 1999
• Constitution, 1997, Article 61

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Portugal

• Act on the Protection of Personal Data
• Constitution, 1989, Article 268 (Constitutional Court website)
• Law of Access to Administrative Documents, 1993

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Romania

• Access to the Personal File and the Disclosure of the Securitate as Political Police
• Competition Law, 1996
• Constitution, 1991, Article 31
• Law on the Fight against Unfair Competition, 1991
• Law on Free Access to Information of Public Interest, No. 544, 12 October 2001; other source (in Romanian
• Law on the National Defence of Romania
• Law on the National Security of Romania
• Law on the Organization and Operation of the Foreign Intelligence Service, 1998
• Law on the Organization and Operation of the Romanian Intelligence Service
• Law on the Organization and the Operation of Romanian Police
• Law on the Protection of Classified Information, 2002; other source
• Law for the Protection of Persons concerning the Processing of Personal Data and free Circulation of Such Data, 2001
• Law on Whistleblower Protection (2004)
• Memorandum on the Draft of the Law Regarding Access to Public Information In the Republic of Romania, by ARTICLE 19, May 2001

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Russian Federation

• Constitution, 1993, Article 24(2) and 29(4)
• Federal Law No. 149-FZ on Information, Technologies and Information Protection
• Federal Law No. 95-FZ On Political Parties
• Federal Law No. 8-FZ on Providing Access to Information on the Activities of Government Bodies and Bodies of Local Self-Government, 2010 (Also find here the List of Terms and Definitions that help to understand the law)
• Federal Law No. 262-FZ on Securing the Right to Information on Activities of Courts in the Russian Federation, 2008

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Senegal

• Constitution, 2001 Article 8
• Law on Archives and Documents, 2006
• Law on Information Society, 2008
• Law on Personal Data Protection, 2008

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Serbia

• Constitution, 2006, Article 51 (English and Serbian, official);
• Law on Administrative Procedure
• Law on Financing Political Activities, 2011
• Law on Financing of Political Parties, 2003
• Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance, 2003
• Law on Personal Data Protection

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Slovakia

• Act on Archives and Registries (Slovak)
• Act on Copyright and Rights related to Copyright, 2003
• Act on Free Access to Information, 2000
• Act on Protection on Classified Information
• Act on Protection of Personal Data
• Act on Public Procurement
• Act on State Statistics
• Administrative Code
• Commercial Code (Slovak)
• Constitution, 1992, Article 26(5) and 45
• Criminal Procedure Code

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Slovenia

• Access to Public Information Act, Official Gazette of RS 96/05, June 2005 (in Slovene)
• Archives and Archival Institutions Act
• Classified Information Act
• Companies Act
• Constitution, 1991, amended through 2006, Article 39(2) (Constitutional Court website)
• Decree on the provision of public information (not the most current version, a few articles regarding use are not included in this translation)
• General Administrative Procedure Act (Slovene)
• Information Commissioner Act
• Personal Data Protection Act

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South Africa

• Constitution, 1996, Article 32
• Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS)
• National Archives of South Africa Act
• Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000
• Protection of Information Act
• Public Service Regulations on the MISS, 2002

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South Korea

• Act on Disclosure of Information by Public Agencies, 1996
• Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Data Protection
• Banking Act
• National Security Act
• Public Service Ethics Act
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Spain

• Constitución - Constitution, 1978, Articles 20 and 105 (b) (Spanish); (in English)
• Ley 9/1968 de 5 de Abril, reguladora de los Secretos Oficiales (Spanish) – Law 9/1968 on Official Secrets – modified by Law 48/1978 7 October, (consolidated text, non-official source)
• Ley 16/1985, de 25 de junio, del Patrimonio Histórico Español (Spanish) – Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage, (consolidated text, non-official source)
• Ley 30/1992, de 26 de noviembre, de Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas y del Procedimiento Administrativo Común (Spanish) - Law 30/92 on Legal Regime of Public Administration and Administrative Procedure, (consolidated text, non-official source)
• Ley Orgánica 15/1999, de 13 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal (Spanish) – Law 15/1999 on Protection of Personal Data, (consolidated text, non-official source)

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Sweden

• Administrative Procedure Act
• Freedom of the Press Act (of constitutional status), 1949, Chapter II Article 1(in Swedish)
• Instrument of Government (of constitutional status), 1974, Chapter II Article 1(2) and 13
• Personal Data Act
• Secrecy Act, 1980 (in Swedish)

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Switzerland

• Federal Constitution, as amended through Oct 15, 2002, Art. 16, (website of Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation, official versions also in German, French, Italian)
• Federal Data Protection Act, 1993
• Federal Law on the Principle of Administrative Transparency, 2004 (in French)
• Freedom of Information Act, 2004
• Freedom of Information Ordninance, 2006

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Taiwan

• Constitution, 1946, Article 11
• Freedom of Government Information Law, 2005 (in Chinese); other source (in English-Chinese)

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Tajikistan

• Constitution, 1994, Article 30
• Law on the Right to Access to Information, 2008 (official source)
• Law on the Press and Other Mass Media

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Tanzania

• Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, Article 18

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Thailand

• Constitution, 1997, Section 56-62
• Official Information Act, 1997

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Trinidad & Tobago

• Constitution, 1976, Article 4(i)
• Freedom of Information Act, 1999

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Turkey

• Constitution, 1982, Article 26
• Exercise of the Right of Petition and Access to Information, 2004
• Law on the Right to Information, 2003

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Uganda

• Access to Information Act, 2005
• Access to Information Regulations, 2011
• Constitution, 1995, Article 41
• National Records and Archives Act
• Official Secrets Act, 1964
• Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005
• Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2010

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Ukraine

• Constitution, 1996, Article 34
• Law on Information, 1992, 2002
• Law on State Secrets, 1994

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United Kingdom

• Data Protection Act
• Environmental Information Regulations, 2005 (official source)
• Freedom of Information Act, 2000 (official source)
• Public Records Act

Cayman Islands

• Constitution Order, 2009, Article 122
• Freedom of Information Law, 2007
• Freedom of Information (General) Regulations, 2008
• Freedom of Information (Information Commissioner) Regulations, 2008

Jersey

• Draft Freedom of Information Law
• Draft Freedom of Information Law Amendment

Scotland

• Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations
• Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, 2002 (official source)
• INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations, 2009

Wales

• Code of Practice on Access to Welsh Executive Information, 2001

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United States

• Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments, 1996
• Espionage Act; other source
• Executive Order 13526 Classified National Security Informaiton, 2009
• “Exemption 3” Statutes
• Federal Advisory Committee Act
• Federal Records Act
• Freedom of Information Act, 1966, as amended through 2002 (official source); other source
• Government in the Sunshine Act
• National Security Act
• Presidential Records Act
• Privacy Act

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Uruguay

• Law on the Right of Access to Public Information, 2008 (Spanish)

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Uzbekistan

• Constitution, 1992, Article 29
• Law on the Principles and Guarantees of Freedom of Information, 2002 (in Russian)

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Venezuela

• Constitution, 1999 (Spanish); (in English, unofficial website)

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Zimbabwe

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2002
• Constitution, Article 20 (as amended on 1st February, 2007)
• Official Secrets Act

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[1] For example, we have included a link to the United States E-FOIA Amendments of 1996, even though included in the consolidated version of the FOIA to which a link is provided, because advocates in other countries may find the text of the amendment of interest.

[2] Sometimes regulations change the meaning of the law. For example the Dominican Republic law states that requestors must state their reasons for a request, but the regulation provides that a general interest in the information is enough.

[3] The version on this website contains many errors. The law, widely referred to as the “Wob” after its Dutch acronym, entered into force in 1980, not 1991 as stated on this website. It has been amended significantly, most recently in 2005. The current version includes a broader definition of “public body,” implements the Aarhus Convention, and makes several technical changes. Information supplied by Roger Vleugels, FOIA legal adviser and lecturer.