Freedom of Information Act (FIOA)

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The Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) is the law that gives the right to access information from the federal government. It is the law that is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. The US Department of State maintains a website that provides a wealth of information about the program and how the obtain access to the department records. Currently, there are 114,740 searchable documents reviewed and released to the public. [1]

A record means information under the control of the Department of State. This is defined as information created, stored, or retrievable by electronic means, regardless of physical form or characteristics. It includes records of other government agencies that have been placed in control of the U.S. Department of State. The Department of State maintains records dealing with: [2]

  • Formulation and execution of US Foreign Policy
  • Administration and operations of the Department of State
  • Administration and operation of US missions abroad
  • Consular assistance given to US Citizens abroad
  • Permanent records 25 years and older

The Freedom of Information Act gives a person the right to request access to Federal records. Some records are protected from release. These records are included but not limited to: [3]

  • National security records
  • Records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of an individual’s personal privacy
  • Records compiled for law enforcement purposes
  • Records protected from release by statutes other than FIOA


References

  1. Freedom of Information Act, http://www.foia.gov/
  2. U.S. Department of State, https://foia.state.gov/
  3. U.S. Department of State FIOA,https://foia.state.gov/Learn/FAQ.aspx#Freedom-of-Information-Act/