What material can be excluded from the information released by a FOIA request?
Exemption One: Classified national defense and foreign relations information. Exemption Two: Internal agency personnel rules and practices. Exemption Three: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
Can you FOIA the White House?
About FOIA NOTE: The White House Office is a separate component of the Executive Office of the President (EOP). If you wish to request information from the White House Office, you may do so at whitehouse.gov/contact. OSTP does not process FOIA requests for the White House Office.
What falls under the Freedom of Information Act?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides public access to all federal agency records except for those records (or portions of those records) that are protected from disclosure by any of nine exemptions or three exclusions (reasons for which an agency may withhold records from a requester).
Can anyone make a Freedom of Information request?
The aim of the Freedom of Information Act is to make information available to the general public. You can only obtain information that would be given to anybody who asked for it, or would be suitable for the general public to see.
What request can individuals make under the Freedom of Information Act?
How does Freedom of Information Act 2000 affect businesses?
Under the FOI Act, anyone has the right to request any recorded information held by public authorities (eg government departments, local councils, health authorities etc) or by businesses that carry out public functions (eg privatised utility companies).
Can you FOIA the President?
Office of Administration — FOIA The Office of Administration (OA), whose sole function is to provide common administrative support and services to all units within the Executive Office of the President, is not subject to FOIA and any related legislation. OA is a distinct entity from the other components of the EOP.
What can you make a Freedom of Information request for?
Under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations you have a right to request any recorded information held by a public authority, such as a government department, local council or state school.
What is the freedom of Information Act 2000?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities. It does this in two ways: public authorities are obliged to publish certain information about their activities; and; members of the public are entitled to request information from public authorities.
How does the freedom of Information Act apply to public authorities?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities. It does this in two ways: public authorities are obliged to publish certain information about their activities; and. members of the public are entitled to request information from public authorities.
What are the exemptions to the freedom of Information Act?
The nine exemption categories that authorize government agencies to withhold information are: Exclusions. Congress provided special protection in the FOIA for three narrow categories of law enforcement and national security records. The provisions protecting those records are known as “exclusions”.
What are the principles of freedom of information?
The main principle behind freedom of information legislation is that people have a right to know about the activities of public authorities, unless there is a good reason for them not to. This is sometimes described as a presumption or assumption in favour of disclosure. The Act is also sometimes described as purpose and applicant blind.