CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-GB" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Transparency / mySociety</title> <meta name="description" content="mySociety provides technology, research and data to help people be active citizens, in more than 40 countries around the world."> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="mySociety » Feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="mySociety » Comments Feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="mySociety » Transparency Comments Feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/feed/" /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=5.9.10' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='create-block-castos-transcript-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--castos-transcript--panel-bg:#f3f3f4}.ssp-transcript input[type=checkbox]{opacity:0;position:absolute;z-index:-1}.ssp-transcript .row{display:flex}.ssp-transcript .row .col{flex:1}.ssp-transcript .tabs{overflow:hidden}.ssp-transcript .tab{overflow:hidden;width:100%}.ssp-transcript .tab-label{background:var(--castos-transcript--panel-bg);cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-weight:700;justify-content:space-between;margin:0;padding:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-label:hover{filter:brightness(95%)}.ssp-transcript .tab-label:after{content:"❯";text-align:center;transition:all .35s;width:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-content{background:#fff;max-height:0;padding:0 1em;transition:all .35s}.ssp-transcript .tab-close{background:var(--castos-transcript--panel-bg);cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:.75em;justify-content:flex-end;padding:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-close:hover,.ssp-transcript input:checked+.tab-label{filter:brightness(95%)}.ssp-transcript input:checked+.tab-label:after{transform:rotate(90deg)}.ssp-transcript input:checked~.tab-content{max-height:none;padding:1em} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-purple-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red: url('#wp-duotone-blue-red');--wp--preset--duotone--midnight: url('#wp-duotone-midnight');--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green: url('#wp-duotone-purple-green');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange: url('#wp-duotone-blue-orange');--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='search-filter-plugin-styles-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/css/search-filter.min.css?ver=2.5.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='google-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Source+Sans+Pro%3A400%2C600%2C700%2C900%2C400italic&ver=5.9.10' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='global-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/css/global.css?ver=1730965478' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='print-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/css/print.css?ver=1656423719' type='text/css' media='print' />  <script type='text/javascript' src='https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' id='search-filter-plugin-build-js-extra'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var SF_LDATA = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.mysociety.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","home_url":"https:\/\/www.mysociety.org\/","extensions":[]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/search-filter-build.min.js?ver=2.5.17' id='search-filter-plugin-build-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/chosen.jquery.min.js?ver=2.5.17' id='search-filter-plugin-chosen-js'></script>   <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.mysociety.org/?p=111' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysociety.org%2Ftransparency%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysociety.org%2Ftransparency%2F&format=xml" /> <script src='https://blogs.mysociety.org/?dm=35ad60b56721cbb21832aefc8835b60c&action=load&blogid=26&siteid=1&t=1201592222&back=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysociety.org%2Ftransparency%2F' type='text/javascript'></script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Podcast RSS feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/feed/podcast" />   <meta property="og:locale" content="en_GB"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="mySociety"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Transparency"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Uncover facts, bring about change, and drive campaigns forward for citizens, journalists, campaigners and researchers Through our work in Transparency, we support Freedom of Information sites in countries around the world. We’re developing new services to support the work of journalists and campa"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png"/> <meta property="og:image:url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png"/> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png"/> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/mysociety"/>  <meta itemprop="name" content="Transparency"/> <meta itemprop="headline" content="Transparency"/> <meta itemprop="description" content="Uncover facts, bring about change, and drive campaigns forward for citizens, journalists, campaigners and researchers Through our work in Transparency, we support Freedom of Information sites in countries around the world. We’re developing new services to support the work of journalists and campa"/> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png"/> <meta itemprop="author" content="Myfanwy"/>    <meta name="twitter:title" content="Transparency"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Uncover facts, bring about change, and drive campaigns forward for citizens, journalists, campaigners and researchers Through our work in Transparency, we support Freedom of Information sites in countries around the world. We’re developing new services to support the work of journalists and campa"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@mysociety"/>     <script defer>Object.defineProperty(document,"cookie",{get:function(){var t=Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(Document.prototype,"cookie").get.call(document);return t.trim().length>0&&(t+="; "),t+="_ga=GA1.1."+Math.floor(1e9*Math.random())+"."+Math.floor(1e9*Math.random())},set:function(t){t.trim().startsWith("_ga")||Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(Document.prototype,"cookie").set.call(document,t)}});</script> <script defer src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-2X56VXTG0K"></script> <script> var client_id = Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000000000) + '.' + Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000000000); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config','G-2X56VXTG0K', {'client_id': client_id, 'cookie_expires': 1 }); </script> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-660910-12', {'storage': 'none'}); ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </head> <body class='page' > <div class="hero-background"></div> <div class="hero-area"> <header class="site-header" role="banner"> <div class="container"> <h1 class="mysociety-logo mysociety-logo--full"> <a href="/">mySociety</a> </h1> <a href="#" class="nav-toggle js-nav-toggle"> Menu </a> <div class="site-navigation-collection js-site-navigation-collection"> <nav class="site-nav primary-nav" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-primary" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-27925" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-111 current_page_item menu-item-27925"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/" aria-current="page">Transparency</a></li> <li id="menu-item-27926" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27926"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/democracy/">Democracy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-27927" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27927"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/community/">Community</a></li> <li id="menu-item-22468" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22468"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/our-research/">Research</a></li> <li id="menu-item-47229" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-47229"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/climate/">Climate</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40676" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40676"><a href="/blog/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-54478" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-54478"><a title="Podcast" href="https://www.mysociety.org/podcasts/mysociety/">Podcast</a></li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="site-nav secondary-nav" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-secondary" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-39015" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-39015"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39017" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-39017"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40677" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40677"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/advice-and-support/">Use our code</a></li> </ul> <a href="/donate" class="secondary-nav__donate">Donate</a> </nav> <div class="search-input site-header__search-input"> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="searchform" action="https://www.mysociety.org/"> <div class="search-input__layout"> <label class="screen-reader-text" for="s">Search for:</label> <input type="text" name="s" id="s" class="search-input__field" value="" placeholder="Search" /> <input type="image" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" src="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/search-icon.svg" height="20" width="20" class="search-input__image-submit" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <header class="page-header "> <div class="container"> <div class="breadcrumb"> <ul><li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org">Home</a></li></ul> </div> <h1>Transparency</h1> </div>  </header> </div> <div class="container container--main"> <div class="grid-row single-column single-column--canvas"> <div class="primary-column"> <main class="main" role="main"> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <div class="stream-page__intro"> <div class="stream-page__intro__container"> <h2 class="stream-page__intro__title">Uncover facts, bring about change, and drive campaigns forward<br /> <small>for citizens, journalists, campaigners and researchers</small></h2> <p class="stream-page__intro__intro">Through our work in Transparency, we support Freedom of Information sites in countries around the world.</p> <p>We’re developing new services to support the work of journalists and campaigners, and conducting research to build the evidence base for how transparency and access to information laws can help citizens become more active and engaged.</p> <p>Freedom of Information is a powerful way to hold authorities to account. It’s a citizen’s right which is upheld in many countries around the world, and a tool by which we can monitor what publicly-funded bodies are doing on our behalf.</p> <p>mySociety’s FOI tools are designed to clarify and simplify the process. They help anyone—experienced or not—to make a request, quickly and simply.</p> <p>If you’re a journalist who wants to uncover hidden facts, a citizen who wants to know more about how your money is spent, or a campaigner ferreting out information, you’ll find that these tools take the hard work out of requesting data from public authorities.</p> </div> <img class="stream-page__intro__icon" src="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/foi-illustration--hi.png" alt="" /> </div> <hr /> <div class="grid-row grid-layout--equal-halves--spacious"> <div class="grid-column"> <h2>WhatDoTheyKnow <small style="display: block; color: #6c6b68; font-size: 0.7em;">for citizens and campaigners</small></h2> <h3><a href="/freedom-of-information/whatdotheyknow/"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40005" style="border: 1px solid #eee;" src="https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtk-home.jpg" alt="wdtk-home" width="600" height="300" srcset="https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtk-home.jpg 600w, https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtk-home-300x150.jpg 300w, https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtk-home-116x58.jpg 116w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></h3> <h4 style="margin: 1.5em 0 0.5em;">Request and make use of free information</h4> <p>Make FOI requests to over 24,000 public authorities in the UK, or browse a massive online public archive of information, for free.</p> <p style="margin-top: -0.5em;"><a href="/freedom-of-information/whatdotheyknow/">Find out about how you can use WhatDoTheyKnow.</a></p> <h4 style="margin: 1.5em 0 0.5em;">Good to know</h4> <p>Uncover statistics or information to back up your campaigns.</p> <p style="margin-top: -0.5em;"><a href="/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information-for-campaigners/">See how you can use our FOI services for campaigning.</a></p> </div> <div class="grid-column"> <h2>WhatDoTheyKnow Pro <small style="display: block; color: #6c6b68; font-size: 0.7em;">for journalists, campaigners and researchers</small></h2> <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/pro"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-40006" style="border: 1px solid #eee;" src="https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtkpro-dashboard.jpg" alt="wdtkpro-dashboard" width="600" height="300" srcset="https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtkpro-dashboard.jpg 600w, https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtkpro-dashboard-300x150.jpg 300w, https://www.mysociety.org/files/2014/03/wdtkpro-dashboard-116x58.jpg 116w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a> <h4 style="margin: 1.5em 0 0.5em;">A toolset for professional users of FOI</h4> <p>Everything journalists, researchers and campaigners need to conduct investigations.</p> <h4 style="margin: 1.5em 0 0.5em;">Start making stories today</h4> <p>Make bulk requests to multiple authorities, and keep sensitive stories embargoed until publication.</p> <p style="margin-top: -0.5em;"><a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/pro">Learn more about WhatDoTheyKnow Pro.</a></p> <p style="margin-top: -0.5em;"> </div> </div> <hr /> <div class="grid-column"> <div> <h1>Run an FOI site in your own country</h1> <h2>Alaveteli <small>for organisations and activists</small></h2> <a href="https://alaveteli.org/"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-45427 " src="https://www.mysociety.org/files/2019/05/Alaveteli-screenshot-345x172-1.png" alt="Alaveteli homepage screenshot" width="536" height="267" /></a> <h4></h4> <p>WhatDoTheyKnow is powered by our Open Source platform, Alavateli — also the software behind FOI sites in over 25 countries worldwide. Find out how you can use this free platform to run your own service.</p> <p><a href="http://alaveteli.org">Become part of the Alaveteli community</a></p> <h4>Aiding journalists around the world</h4> <p>Our next-level FOI toolkit Alaveteli Pro is helping investigations in many countries.</p> <p><a href="/freedom-of-information/alaveteli-professional/">Find out more about Alaveteli Pro around the world.</a></p> </div> <hr /> <p> </p> <h2>Case studies</h2> <div class="grid-row grid-layout--equal-halves--spacious"> <div class="grid-column"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2019/07/26/after-exploitation-using-foi-to-understand-what-happens-to-victims-of-modern-slavery/">Using FOI to find out what is happening to victims of modern slavery in the UK</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2020/05/12/using-foi-to-protect-social-housing-and-council-property/">Campaigning with FOI to protect people’s homes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2018/06/13/foi-one-part-of-the-fight-against-the-lose-lose-lobo-loans-to-local-councils/">Getting to the bottom of the ‘lose/lose’ LOBO loans</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2019/01/23/using-whatdotheyknow-to-uncover-how-schoolchildrens-data-was-used-to-support-the-hostile-environment/">How schoolchildren’s data was used to support the hostile environment</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid-column"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2018/05/17/truth-justice-for-haemophiliacs-whatdotheyknow-and-the-contaminated-blood-scandal/">Deploying FOI to get to the truth of the contaminated blood scandal</a></li> <li><a href="/2017/08/04/is-your-local-authority-making-life-difficult-for-wheelchair-users/">Using WhatDoTheyKnow Pro batch requests to fight disabled taxi discrimination</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2019/09/02/foi-and-the-irish-border-issue/">Getting facts about the impact of Brexit on the Irish border into the public domain</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr /> <p> </p> <h2>Research and evidence</h2> <ul class="research-items"> <li class="research-item"> <div class="research-item__thumbnail"> <a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/public-foi"> <img src="https://research.mysociety.org/media/thumbnails/public-foi-thumbnail_cqEzoHj.png" alt="Public FOI" height="150" width="110"> </a> </div> <h2 class="research-item__title"><a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/public-foi">Public FOI</a></h2> <ul class="research-item__authors"><li class="research-item__author">Alex Parsons</li></ul> <p class="research-item__pubdate">July 2019</p> </li> <li class="research-item"> <div class="research-item__thumbnail"> <a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/case-management-foi-sars-benefits-cases"> <img src="https://research.mysociety.org/media/thumbnails/foi-sars-benefits-cases-thumbnail_F1yRGvN.png" alt="Better case management of FOI and SARs: Benefits cases" height="150" width="110"> </a> </div> <h2 class="research-item__title"><a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/case-management-foi-sars-benefits-cases">Better case management of FOI and SARs: Benefits cases</a></h2> <ul class="research-item__authors"><li class="research-item__author">Louise Crow</li><li class="research-item__author">Gareth Rees</li></ul> <p class="research-item__pubdate">April 2019</p> </li> <li class="research-item"> <div class="research-item__thumbnail"> <a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/freedom-information-local-government"> <img src="https://research.mysociety.org/media/thumbnails/local-gov-foi-thumbnail_Jaq9NQb.png" alt="Freedom of Information in Local Government" height="150" width="110"> </a> </div> <h2 class="research-item__title"><a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/freedom-information-local-government">Freedom of Information in Local Government</a></h2> <ul class="research-item__authors"><li class="research-item__author">Alex Parsons</li><li class="research-item__author">Rebecca Rumbul</li></ul> <p class="research-item__pubdate">April 2019</p> </li> <li class="research-item"> <div class="research-item__thumbnail"> <a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/developing-transparency-through-digital-means"> <img src="https://research.mysociety.org/media/thumbnails/2016-developing-transparency.jpg" alt="Developing transparency through digital means" height="150" width="110"> </a> </div> <h2 class="research-item__title"><a href="https://research.mysociety.org/publications/developing-transparency-through-digital-means">Developing transparency through digital means</a></h2> <ul class="research-item__authors"><li class="research-item__author">Rebecca Rumbul</li></ul> <p class="research-item__pubdate">May 2016</p> </li></ul> <div class="mailchimp-signup js-mailchimp-signup"> <div class="mailchimp-signup__intro"><h2>Stay informed</h2><p>Subscribe to our newsletter.</p></div> <form action="//mysociety.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=53d0d2026dea615ed488a8834&id=287dc28511" method="post" novalidate> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"> <input type="text" name="b_53d0d2026dea615ed488a8834_287dc28511" tabindex="-1" value=""> </div> <p class="mailchimp-signup__inline-inputs"> <input type="email" name="EMAIL" placeholder="you@email.com" aria-label="Email address"> <input type="submit" name="subscribe" value="Subscribe" class="button"> </p> <fieldset class="mailchimp-signup__interests"><input type="hidden" name="group[11745][2]" value="1"><p class="mailchimp-signup__checkbox-label"> <label> <input type="checkbox" name="group[11745][32]" value="1" > Also sign up to general mySociety news </label> </p></fieldset> </form> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="mysoc-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="container"> <h2 class="mysoc-footer__site-name">mySociety</h2> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="col-sm-4"> <div class="mysoc-footer__site-description"> <p>mySociety is a not-for-profit social enterprise, based in the UK but working with partners internationally. We build and share digital technologies that help people be active citizens, across the three areas of <a href="/democracy">Democracy</a>, <a href="/transparency">Transparency</a>, and <a href="/community">Community</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-5"> <nav class="mysoc-footer__links"> <ul id="menu-tertiary-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-20940" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20940"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-21111" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21111"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/careers/">Careers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42894" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42894"><a title="Code of Conduct" href="https://www.mysociety.org/code-of-conduct/">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="menu-item-20944" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20944"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41990" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-41990"><a href="http://data.mysociety.org/">Data and APIs</a></li> <li id="menu-item-47676" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-47676"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/environment-policy/">Environment policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-50624" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-50624"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-policy/">Equity, diversity & inclusion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-21144" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21144"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/subscribe/">Newsletters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-20979" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20979"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/press/">Press</a></li> <li id="menu-item-28489" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-28489"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/privacy/">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-54484" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-54484"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/strategy/">Strategy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-38518" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-38518"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/united-nations-sustainable-development-goals/">Sustainable Development</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="mysoc-footer__donate"> <p>We are a charity – support our mission to put more power in more people’s hands so that together we can build a fairer, safer future</p> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/donate?utm_source=mysociety.org&utm_content=footer+donate+now&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=mysoc_footer" class="mysoc-footer__donate__button"> 🤍 Donate now</a> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="mysoc-footer__divider" role="presentation"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="mysoc-footer__legal"> <p> mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) and a limited company (03277032). We provide commercial services through our wholly owned subsidiary <a href="https://www.societyworks.org">SocietyWorks Ltd</a> (05798215). </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <ul class="mysoc-footer__badges"> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://github.com/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--github">Github</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mysociety.org" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--bluesky">bluesky</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--linkedin">LinkedIn</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://facebook.com/mySociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--facebook">Facebook</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://twitter.com/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--twitter">Twitter</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mysociety_org/" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--instagram">Instagram</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mysociety0" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--tiktok">tiktok</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.1' id='jquery-ui-core-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/datepicker.min.js?ver=1.13.1' id='jquery-ui-datepicker-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' id='jquery-ui-datepicker-js-after'> jQuery(function(jQuery){jQuery.datepicker.setDefaults({"closeText":"Close","currentText":"Today","monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Previous","dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"dateFormat":"MM d, yy","firstDay":1,"isRTL":false});}); </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/fitvids.js?ver=1656423684' id='fitvids-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/social-sharing.js?ver=1656423684' id='mysociety-social-sharing-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/analytics.js?ver=1686660156' id='mysociety-analytics-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/mysociety.js?ver=1725869074' id='mysociety-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/mailchimp-signup.js?ver=5.9.10' id='mailchimp-signup-js'></script> </body> </html>