/ Modified jul 5, 2016 3:38 p.m.

Freedom of Information Act Turns 50; Attacks Continue

UA researcher notes landmark statute disliked by public, private entities alike.

FOIA
Courtesy: Freedominfo.org

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, which has brought transparency to government agencies and corporate interests, but it is under constant attack from groups that want to keep information private.

Congress passed the act, also known as FOIA, so citizens could have more access to public records and hold government accountable.

University of Arizona School of Journalism Director David Cuillier researches freedom of information laws around the world. He said in an interview that freedom of information is not a constitutional right in the United States, but it is considered a human right in many countries.

Nevertheless, Cuillier said, freedom of information is always under siege from corporations and government agencies that want to keep certain information private.

"Whether it's corporate interests or government officials trying to keep things secret, it's a continuous, continuous attack," he said. "It feels like building a sand castle in the surf. There's always something knocking it down."

Cuillier said President Lyndon Johnson signed the act 1966, but he was not an enthusiastic supporter of it.

"No president likes FOIA, because it's Congress imposing these restrictions," Cuillier said. "Congress is forcing him to be open. No president wants that."

During the past 50 years, FOIA requests have yielded information ranging from government waste to failing infrastructure. Journalists, public interest groups, and ordinary citizens have used the act to uncover details about environmental concerns, military spending, and food safety.

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