@alexparsons.bsky.social has been thinking about the increased demand on public systems created by #AI - not just #FOI but for all areas where the public interface with government.
Here's a suggestion for an approach that can work for the public benefit:
www.mysociety.org/2026/04/14/r...
Useful and thoughtful overview / typology from Alex here -
Former environment editor of The Times Ben Webster has launched a legal claim against the Government for withholding documents pressgazette.co.uk/media_law/en...
How can we protect and expand FOI?
@mysociety.org have written up the first workshop exploring what an FOI Network could do to help www.mysociety.org/2026/04/14/f...
The second workshop, on how a Network could support journalists and specialist users, is... TOMORROW!
Sign up: luma.com/y12euvs2
Very useful collection of articles here
We're looking for a collaborative, efficient, organised, sensitive, kind, experienced user support officer at mySociety
JOB VACANCY: Could you provide excellent support for the users of mySociety's key services, some of whom are taking their first steps into democratic engagement?
Part time, fully remote. Find out more and apply at: apply.workable.com/mysociety/j/...
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@dbanisar.bsky.social @georgegreenwood.bsky.social @petergeoghegan.bsky.social @mrosenbaum.bsky.social @mattburgess1.bsky.social
@da.vidh.scot
A few thoughts on forthcoming attempts to weaken NZ’s #FOI law and why it should be resisted. May resonate in England
newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/04/f...
We will reach a decision and respond to 90% of FOI concerns within six months: Last year, Q3 24/25 - 94.6% (Green); Previous, Q2 25/26 - 86.9% (Amber); Latest, Q3 25/26 - 79.0% (Red)
The ICO has just released its latest performance monitoring report, which confirms how FOI complaints have rapidly increased and its backlog has correspondingly got much worse - it's now taking over 6 months for non-priority cases to be allocated to a case officer
35. With regard to MPS’s current performance levels the Commissioner is particularly concerned that: • MPS is not able to commit to achieving 90% compliance within a certain timeframe; • Over 100 requests were overdue as at 13 February 2026; and • MPS is achieving only just over 70% compliance, and has never achieved over 75.9%, when nearly a quarter of requests were still not answered on time. 36. As previously noted, the Commissioner acknowledges the positive engagement he has received from MPS’s information rights staff. However, it is the responsibility of MPS as an organisation as a whole, including at its highest levels, to ensure that it is meeting its statutory FOI duties. Therefore, the Commissioner expects MPS to ensure that it is not left to its information rights staff alone to meet the requirements of the Notice. Senior leaders within MPS need to take ownership and responsibility for achieving compliance with this Notice. 37. The Commissioner considers it unacceptable for the largest UK police force’s compliance with the timeliness obligations of FOIA to be so far removed from the law set by Parliament and his minimum expected standard for compliance.
The Information Commissioner has issued another Enforcement Notice against the Met Police, due to the Met's persistently inadequate and unacceptably poor record on responding to FOI requests
I've said this before, but still true that it's well worth following Claire's work if you're interested in FOI
NEW POST: I asked Obinna to compile a list of data viz and notable subject-adjacent conference events taking place in 2026 and he gathered so many it felt natural to publish as a post and share with the world!
visualisingdata.com/2026/03/data...
Good point by Claire here that FOI costs can be saved if public bodies respond properly and so avoid unnecessary internal reviews and ICO complaints - "Research back in 2010 found internal reviews carried out by Government departments cost around five times more than the original request."
I recommend this very good piece by @alexparsons.bsky.social
A very good time to revisit this excellent article by @benworthy.bsky.social on the usefulness of FOI
British officials are considering a clampdown on the freedom of information system in a move that would spark backlash from transparency campaigners. Government figures are discussing a reduction in the cost ceiling for processing a request as the number of annual submissions has spiralled, according to people familiar with the situation.
From article in today's Financial Times by @lucyfisher.ft.com - the reason why govt's preferred method of restricting FOI is via the cost limit is because this can be done directly through regulations, without legislation which would be tougher politically
Very good piece by George - including his point about how he has used FOI to expose important issues about China and UK national security
What is happening? The current Energy Performance of Buildings Data service, available at https://epc.opendatacommunities.org/ is being retired. It will be replaced by a new service called Get Energy Performance Data. What you need to do: In order to continue using this open data, you will need to use the new service. You can access the service by signing in to or creating a GOV.UK One Login account, which you can do from the Get Energy Performance Data homepage at: https://get-energy-performance-data.communities.gov.uk/.
MHCLG has announced a new system for access to data about energy performance certs (EPCs) and display energy certs (DECs)
#FOI Friday is back after a bit of a break.
Aiming for staying power more like an FOI disclosure row involving the Scottish Gov't (and less like an Australian FOI shake-up bid).
Normal or not, I also owe my limited knowledge of basketball players largely to Robert Nozick
This is one way to get your FOI internal review answered ... if you're a member of the House of Lords
Don't forget to sign up to indicate interest in joining the new #FOI Network: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
You can take a look at the written overview on our blog at www.mysociety.org/2026/02/26/f... ...and...
3 things you need to know:
Videos from #FOIFest are now online and can be seen at youtube.com/playlist?lis...
...or...
Here is my 10-minute talk from the FOI Fest conference: youtube.com/watch?v=_jjH... . It's a quick tour of some FOI lessons I have learnt - about persistence, phraseology, timing and the FOI requester's Venn diagram, with a positive note at the end!
And you can watch all the FOI Fest talks here (it was a very good day, so they're worth watching if you weren't there) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Rz...
Here is my 10-minute talk from the FOI Fest conference: youtube.com/watch?v=_jjH... . It's a quick tour of some FOI lessons I have learnt - about persistence, phraseology, timing and the FOI requester's Venn diagram, with a positive note at the end!
It seems John Edwards has just announced he is stepping down: "This is my last appearance here as Information Commissioner ... This is also my first, and last, appearance as the Chair of that new Board" [the new board being created in the new governance structure] www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-inf...
Very good example, many thanks for sending!
Another very useful summary thread of yesterday's #FOIFest