ForSet is developing a citizen-centric freedom of information (FOI) request website to nudge the government to release public data.
Year founded
2017
Location
Georgia
Sector
Public services & open data
Stage
Incorporation
The right to information and right to access public information is a constitutional right in Georgia. Governmental institutions, including national and local authorities, as well as all public organizations, have ownership over information, while citizens are entitled to request any of this information, which is not confidential. Public information is a subject of community interest, impacting civil society actions and development. Unfortunately, the governmental bodies often withhold, delay or do not respond at all to citizen requests, resulting in breaching the law and limiting citizens’ rights.
ForSet developed a citizen-centric FOI request website, via which citizens can send public requests for information. The platform generates templates for formal appeals/requests to the governmental entities. Such templates can be completed in less than five minutes, improving access to public information. With the consent of the user, responses received can be added to an open database so that the next interested inquirer can obtain the information without making additional requests.
ForSet’s goal is to accomplish justice for citizens by increasing government accountability while limiting potential abuse of power through open access to information. In this way, the team strives to reduce inequality and enable every person to have equal access to government information, thereby promoting democracy.
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