Ethical Debates

Many countries have laws about freedom of information, which is a citizen''s right to access information from the government. A relatively recent development historically, today many people believe that freedom of information is a basic right of citizenship. Supporters of freedom of information say it provides one of the essential checks and balances on government, making government open, accountable, and reducing corruption. However, most countries'' laws contain limits on disclosure, and there are many debates about where the lines should be drawn. Readers get explanations of how freedom of information laws work and how they have been framed in different countries. Chapters explore the debate about how these laws should be applied so that they work well for both government officials and the public.