Freedom of information in the United Kingdom

Freedom of information (FOI) in the United Kingdom refers to members of the general public's right to access information held by public authorities. This right is covered in two parts:

1. Public authorities must regularly publish updates and information regarding their activities, and
2. Members of the public can make requests for information and updates regarding the activities of public authorities.^[1]

Under the governance of FOI in the UK, public authorities generally include organizations that are publicly funded: like the NHS, police and governmental departments, and state schools. Public funding is not the final arbiter of whether an organization must comply with FOI rules though, as certain publicly funded but privately held operations (like grant receiving charities) are exempt. Healthcare and dental practices only have to make accessible information for the work they perform under the NHS (where it does not reveal personal data).^[2]

Information made public under FOI rules include written documents (letters, emails, computer files) or recordings (photos, videos, phone calls).^[3] Requests for information can be made by anyone, whether or not they are citizens of, or live in, the UK.^[4]

Freedom of information is philosophically based on the idea that more openness leads to more trust between members of the public and public authorities.^[5] Because of this, FOI policy in the UK favors access rather than restriction of information. To support access, no one has to give a reason why they want the information they are requesting. And, all requests are meant to be responded to equally. Journalists, students, and voters should be responded to with the same level of information.^[6]