Federal Data Protection Commissioner Criticizes Plans to Reform the Freedom of Information Act

Specifically, the draft adopted by the coalition committee provides for the right to information to be focused in future on natural persons "die ein berechtigtes Interesse an einer Auskunft haben und diese nicht durch andere Regelungen erreichen können". "Im Koalitionsausschuss hatten CDU, CSU und SPD sich darauf geeinigt, das Gesetz zu ändern", the decision states.

In addition, it is to be examined, "den Zugang zu Informationen auf in Deutschland lebende Deutsche und EU-Bürger zu beschränken". Specht-Riemenschneider criticized these plans as discriminatory against a large number of people. The Federal Commissioner demanded that it should be upheld "dass der Staat im Einzelfall darlegen muss, dass das öffentliche Interesse der Transparenz entgegensteht".

Criticism from the Opposition and Journalism

The Left party also reacted with outrage. The deputy parliamentary group leader Clara Bünger said, "damit wolle sich die Regierung ‚unangreifbar machen‘. Das Gesetz werde durch die geplante Änderung ‚ausgehöhlt‘." The Left party described the plans as an "Angriff auf die Pressefreiheit und auf das Recht der Öffentlichkeit, staatliches Handeln zu kontrollieren".

The journalistic associations are striking the same note. Mika Beuster, Mika Beuster, declared that without the Freedom of Information Act, "viele Skandale nicht aufgedeckt" would be. Amthors criticism of the IFG stems from the fact that he is "selber davon betroffen".

The dju trade union accused the coalition of wanting to "eine Blackbox schaffen, der Öffentlichkeit Informationen vorenthalten und journalistisches Arbeiten erschweren" and called for a strengthening of the IFG as well as a legally anchored right to information for journalists.

The transparency organization FragDenStaat described the plans as the "schwersten Angriff auf staatliche Transparenz in der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik". The organization Abgeordnetenwatch also expressed criticism in a similar vein. The consumer organization Foodwatch spoke of a practical abolition of the law.

Justification by the Federal Government

According to information from the decision, the IFG is "insbesondere von Journalisten und Nichtregierungsorganisationen regelmäßig genutzt". In the coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD had agreed to reform the IFG in order to "einen Mehrwert für Bürgerinnen und Bürger und die Verwaltung" zu schaffen. The level of fees for information requests is to be adjusted in future "im Einklang mit dem Kostendeckungsprinzip". In addition, the names of employees are to be redacted in IFG responses in order to protect them from hostility and threats.

The Federal Government justified the project with a reform agenda that remains tight. Lars Klingbeil urged that the coalition should not "sich in Klein-Klein-Debatten verlieren". The reform package presented on Wednesday at the Chancellery contains, in addition to the IFG reform, further relief measures for low and middle incomes as well as changes to taxes, pensions, bureaucracy, and the labor market. Friedrich Merz stated that the economic downturn would last longer than expected. The topic of the IFG was already controversial during the coalition negotiations; the CDU/CSU had previously called for the abolition of the law in its current form.

The central point of conflict is the question of how far access to government information will in future be tied to personal prerequisites. While the coalition points to a reduction of the administrative burden and better protection for public servants, critics see the principle of transparency at risk.

Outlook on Parliamentary Deliberations

Should the reform be implemented as currently planned, this would be the most far-reaching cut to the right to information since its introduction in 2006. Observers expect that parliamentary deliberations will begin in the coming weeks.