I had a
belief that the Open Government was a new initiative promoted by President
Obama since 2009. But last week I had a chance to meet a man who has had more
than 40 years of experience working with the Open Government in the United
States. During our conversation, I tried to figure out the difference between
the old and the new Open Government, and learn the history of the Open Government (OG)in the United States.
Open
Government concept appears as a result of adoption the FOIL – Freedom of
Information Law in 1974. These laws provides citizens access to
information and records which is collected, used and archived by governmental
structures. First version of this Law was very weak but it was developed
over the times to respond the needs of the citizens and ensure the security of personal
and public information. By this time, Information Laws are adopted in a many
different countries which are provides different level of access to
information, but anyway it becomes one of the main human rights globally.
Robert
Freeman is the director of the Committee for OG of New York state since 1974.
This committee was established as a result of the adoption of the Freedom of in
Information Law (FOIL), and the New York state is one of the few states which
have a special committee for OG. Mr. Freeman explained that this committee was
not established to help the state, but to do the right things and serves the citizens
in gaining access to information. Citizens receive the right of accessing to
information at a written request to any of the government agencies. There are
limits in obtaining information when it comes to issues of national security or
personal data of citizens from birth to death. The Committee is responsible for
issues and advises citizens on the implementation of this law. More information
about the activities of the Committee for the OG in New York State can be found
at www.dos.ny.gov/coog/.
The idea of
Open Government found a new lease of life thanks to the initiative of the
President Obama and the Open Government Directive in 2009. This initiative is
the unprecedented step towards democratization, when proactively disclosure the
electronically available public information using new technologies. Also, Open
Government Initiatives encourages governmental organizations to find a new and
innovative ways of communication and their participation in decision - making
process in different levels. This initiative was supported at the global level,
and to date there are more than 65 countries are included in the Open
Government Partnership (www.opengovpartnership.org)
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