FOI Man at Large: the DPO Conference
Earlier this week I was lucky enough to attend the Information Commissioner’s Data Protection Officers Conference in Manchester. Don’t be misled by the name though – there was plenty to entertain us...
View ArticleExemptions
Exemptions have always been contentious. FOI Man provides a glimpse behind the scenes of how the decision to apply them is taken. Back in the early noughties, when I was nought but an FOI Boy, the BBC...
View ArticleKeeping secrets secret
The Daily Telegraph has highlighted the tricky issue of redaction. FOI Man reflects on the perhaps surprising difficulties of blanking out a bit of text. Today’s Daily Telegraph features a story about...
View ArticleWhy the public interest test is so important
Most exemptions are subject to a public interest test. But why is it so important to ensuring that the Freedom of Information Act works? If you make FOI requests, you probably hate it when public...
View ArticleIs FOI purpose-blind?
Is a public authority allowed to question why you want information? FOI Man investigates. It’s a standard mantra that we’ve all got used to trotting out, both within and outside of public authorities....
View ArticleWhy is my simple query being treated as FOI?
FOI Man suggests that how an enquiry is badged is irrelevant – it’s other issues that dictate how long a request takes to answer. A question I get asked a lot is why, when an individual asks a simple...
View ArticleTake it Online
FOI Man explains that online discussion between FOI Officers is part of the job, not a nationwide conspiracy. I’ve become aware of a new form of twisted corruption that FOI Officers are prey to. And...
View ArticleWhen it comes to making FOI requests, it should be quality over quantity
FOI Man observes that while the volume of FOI requests continues to rise, their quality is not. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen my Tweet on Thursday saying that my organisation had...
View ArticleWibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey FOI requests
With a due tip of the hat to Mr Steven Moffat, FOI Man tackles the trend for time distorting FOI requests. The other day, one FOI Officer on Twitter reported that they had received an FOI request....
View ArticleVexatious requests – new Tribunal decision
Just a quick post from me today to flag up an interesting Tribunal decision on vexatious requests (s.14 of the Act). The case is particularly interesting as both the Tribunal and the Commissioner are...
View ArticleTake it Online
FOI Man explains that online discussion between FOI Officers is part of the job, not a nationwide conspiracy
View ArticleWhen it comes to making FOI requests, it should be quality over quantity
FOI Man observes that while the volume of FOI requests continues to rise, their quality is not.
View ArticleWibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey FOI requests
With a due tip of the hat to Mr Steven Moffat, FOI Man tackles the trend for time distorting FOI requests.
View ArticleVexatious requests – new Tribunal decision
FOI Man highlights an interesting Tribunal decision on vexatious requests
View ArticleYou be the judge
FOIMan comments on a revealing annotation to a request made via WhatDoTheyKnow.com. In my experience, one of the most common causes for a FOI response being delayed is one that many FOI Officers are...
View ArticleHow to be an FOI Officer
FOIMan brings you his latest article for PDP – and news of a new training course for FOI Officers. When I first worked as an FOI Officer back in 2003, setting up procedures and systems in the Greater...
View ArticleYou be the judge
FOIMan comments on a revealing annotation to a request made via WhatDoTheyKnow.com. In my experience, one of the most common causes for a FOI response being delayed is one that many FOI Officers are...
View ArticleHow to be an FOI Officer
FOIMan brings you his latest article for PDP – and news of a new training course for FOI Officers. When I first worked as an FOI Officer back in 2003, setting up procedures and systems …
View ArticleYou be the judge
FOIMan comments on a revealing annotation to a request made via WhatDoTheyKnow.com. In my experience, one of the most common causes for a FOI response being delayed is one that many FOI Officers are...
View ArticleHow to be an FOI Officer
FOIMan brings you his latest article for PDP – and news of a new training course for FOI Officers. When I first worked as an FOI Officer back in 2003, setting up procedures and systems …
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