28th September is the ‘Right to Know Day’ in 90 countries around the world. The idea was born on 28 September, 2002, on an international meeting of Freedom of Information organizations in Sofia, Bulgaria. On that day, Freedom of Information Advocates (FOIA) Network was also founded with the aim of promoting the individual right of access to information and open, transparent governance.
The ‘Right to Know Day’ itself symbolizes the global movement for promotion and also raising awarness of the right to information.
HCLU celebrates the ‘Right to Know Day’ with five access to public interest data cases on court this week.
Freedom of Information Advocates Network
In November, 2013 András Horváth, former staff member of the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration turned to the public with his information on companies committing VAT fraud with the assistance of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV). The whistleblower decided to seek publicity after several unsuccessful attempts to raise the issue within the Administration and the government. The revelations resulted in huge media coverage and created an unresolved political scandal ever since.
The draft law – currently before the Parliament – on Data Protection and Freedom of Information will replace the independent Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commissioner with an administrative authority. This change will seriously diminish the level of privacy protection and weaken the right to access to information in Hungary.
The draft Bill on Social Participation will repeal the now operative law on lobbying. This proposed measure would lead to an increase in oppurtunities for corruption by curtailing the transparency of public decision-making.