German officials decry planned 'clearcut' rollback of freedom of information

German officials responsible for freedom of information have sounded the alarm over proposed government reforms that they say would drastically curtail public access to official documents. The Conference of Freedom of Information Commissioners (IFK) in Germany described the federal government's reform plans as a "clearcut" attack on transparency.

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It is neither apparent that current challenges warrant such restrictions even in the slightest, nor is state resilience strengthened by comprehensive and blanket secrecy.

According to a statement from Dieter Kugelmann, the commissioner for Rhineland-Palatinate, the government's proposals lack justification. "It is neither apparent that current challenges warrant such restrictions even in the slightest, nor is state resilience strengthened by comprehensive and blanket secrecy," Kugelmann stated. He added that the government is using security concerns as a pretext for "incomprehensible and ungrounded restrictions on freedom of information."

The federal government intends to amend the law governing the right to access official information from federal authorities. A key change would be to limit the circle of individuals eligible to make requests. Since 2006, the Freedom of Information Act (IFG) has granted an unconditional right to information from federal agencies. The planned reform faces strong criticism from opposition politicians and organizations that regularly scrutinize government actions.

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The government is using security concerns as a pretext for incomprehensible and ungrounded restrictions on freedom of information.

The IFK considers any departure from the principle of unconditional access to official information particularly serious. "This would be tantamount to a general attack on freedom of information," the conference warned. They urged the federal government to implement the IFG amendment, as outlined in the coalition agreement, in a way that enhances transparency and accountability of state actions, rather than hindering them.

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This would be tantamount to a general attack on freedom of information.