ALT PROPOSED CHANGES IN GERMANY’s Freedom of Information Act (IFG) AT A GLANCE: Restrict access to information by requiring applicants to demonstrate a “legitimate interest,” reversing the principle that public information should be accessible by default. Remove the right to file information requests for organizations and potentially exclude millions of residents without German or EU citizenship. Eliminate the current fee cap, potentially making requests prohibitively expensive and turning access to information into a privilege rather than a right. Allow authorities to routinely redact the names of officials responsible for decisions, reducing accountability and increasing risks of corruption and abuse of power. Introduce additional grounds for rejecting information requests, making it easier for authorities to withhold information.

ALT The image shows a hand putting a ballot (envelope) in a box in darkness. The text says: 160+ civil society organisations are calling on COSP11 delegates and governments to commit to integrity in the funding of political parties and candidates. Read the letter. Transparency International.