FOIA request – Page 5 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

New players join newspapers in using FOIA requests

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Newspapers were once the dominant force in dislodging documents and other records from reluctant federal government agencies, but a new crop of media players, advocacy groups and corporate interests now drive the release of information.

The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 was first envisioned as a tool for traditional media to seek documents, data and information they deemed important to the public's interest. It also was meant to allow ordinary Americans to seek information from the federal government about themselves.

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FOIA report card shows federal agencies missing the mark

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Federal agencies are still mostly failing to live up to the promise of the Freedom of Information Act, according to the annual report of watchdog group Center for Effective Government.

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Agencies fail to make the grade on FOIA requests

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Nearly 50 years after passage of the Freedom of Information Act, federal agencies continue to struggle to release requested information to the public in a timely manner. That's according a new report from the Center for Effective Government.

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Cornell Alliance students challenge ‘anti-GMO bullies’ over FOI demand

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The Cornell Alliance for Science–a global initiative for science-based communications based at Cornell University–has launched a symbolic petition to support biotechnology research scientists in the face of recent attacks on their integrity. These attacks come from an organization called U.S. Right to Know, which recently submitted Freedom of Information requests demanding that public scientists turn over tens of thousands of emails linked to their research efforts involving biotech crops.

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Oakley reveals names tied to reserve police force

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The village of Oakley has given an attorney 145 names of people identified as applying to be village police reservists.

The village in southern Saginaw County, with a population of 290, has fought a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit for nearly two years to keep the names of its reservists and donors to the police department secret. Two additional FOIA lawsuits were filed in recent months.

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Feds Refuse to Release Documents on “Zero-Day” Security Exploits

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Federal agencies served with a Freedom of Information Act request are refusing to release documents related to their purchase, use and disclosure of zero-day exploits, keeping the American public in the dark about a practice that leaves the Internet and its users less secure.

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Judge blasts EPA for ‘suspicious’ handling of conservative group’s FOIA

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A federal judge Monday blasted the Environmental Protection Agency for its “suspicious” handling of a 2012 Freedom of Information Act request by a conservative group for top officials’ e-mails, saying the agency left “far too much room” for the public to suspect official misconduct.

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Oakley releases list in response to request for police donor info, but some on the list say they don’t belong there

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The village of Oakley has released 13 pages of names and financial information in response to a Saginaw News request for the names of donors to the Oakley Police Department.

However, at least some of those listed, including Saginaw County 911, deny donating to the department.

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Washington won’t say how much damage Snowden leaks did

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The National Security Agency has repeatedly stated that leaks by former contractor Edward Snowden about its surveillance programs have compromised national security and harmed American foreign policy – but Washington remains unwilling to say how.

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Using FOIA Requests for a Competitive Edge

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Many people are aware of the Freedom of Information Act, known by its acronym, FOIA. It’s the kind of thing that might be described as “government trade secrets, inside out.”

In essence, it means that you can get “private” information from the government by filing a request. Think the government has a file on you? Well, you can file and they will tell you if they do or don’t, or that “they don’t want to confirm or deny” the existence of such a file.

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