Public sector urged not to complain about social media FOI requests
The Information Commissioner has urged public agencies not to gripe about receiving Freedom of Information requests via new media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
Christopher Graham branded complaints from the sector about taxpayers use of such mediums as hypocritical – given that such bodies often use such networks to promote their work.
Graham said: “Public bodies claiming proactive transparency shouldn't be so coy about revealing what individual citizens may want to know. Organisations promoting accountability need to be better at processing day-to-day information requests.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office is launching a consultation into the publication process to ensure maximum transparency in government, with one area of enquiry being the establishment of a co-ordinated national information policy.
Amended guidance should be in place by the end of the year.