Loss of right to information

Mitigation strategy

1. Prioritize Enhancement of Statutory Compliance and Accessibility: Mandate that public bodies improve adherence to existing Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, specifically focusing on expediting request fulfillment and reducing administrative delays. Any proposed alterations to the statutory charging regime or access limits must be supported by a comprehensive, evidence-based review that formally assesses the impact on public access rights and derived benefits. 2. Institute a Principle-Based Information Disclosure Policy: Develop and implement an organizational policy anchored in the principle of 'maximum disclosure, minimum necessary restriction.' This policy must clearly define the limited, necessary, and auditable exceptions—such as those relating to security, privacy, or harm prevention—that justify the refusal or restriction of information access. 3. Formalize and Publicize Disclosure Risk Assessment Frameworks: Establish a standardized, formal mechanism for conducting disclosure risk assessments on all information intended for public release. When statistical disclosure limitation (SDL) techniques are applied to mitigate privacy or security risks, the methodology and potential impact on data accuracy or utility must be documented and publicly communicated to allow users to appropriately assess the information.