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Public Administration vocabulary · Transparency, Audit and Ethics

Freedom of information

Meaning in public administration, with examples

nounCommon term

In public administration, freedom of information means: The legal right of the public to ask for and receive information held by public bodies, with limited exceptions such as national security or personal data.

In Turkish: bilgi edinme hakkı, bilgi edinme özgürlüğü

How it is used

Often shortened to FOI. People make or submit an FOI request, and public bodies must respond within a legal deadline. Examples include the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and, in Turkey, the Right to Information Law (Bilgi Edinme Hakkı Kanunu).

Example sentences

  1. The journalist used a freedom of information request to obtain the inspection reports.

  2. Our unit handles around two hundred freedom of information requests a year.

Common collocations

  • freedom of information request
  • freedom of information law
  • FOI officer
  • right to information
  • transparencyThe principle that public bodies should act openly, so that citizens can see how decisions are made, how money is spent and who is responsible.
  • accountabilityThe duty of public bodies and officials to explain and justify their decisions and use of resources, and to accept responsibility, including sanctions, when things go wrong.
  • public interestThe general good of society as a whole, as opposed to the private interests of individuals or groups; public bodies are expected to act in the public interest.
  • ombudsmanAn independent official who investigates complaints from citizens about unfair treatment or poor service by public bodies and recommends ways to put things right.

More terms: Transparency, Audit and Ethics

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