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27 Sep 2024

Lighthouse Reports Wins Inaugural Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-27T02:25:21+02:00

Madrid, 27 September 2024 – Lighthouse Reports has been awarded the first-ever Access Info Impact Award for its leadership in the groundbreaking ‘Suspicion Machines’ investigation, which uncovered discriminatory algorithmic practices across Europe. Lighthouse Reports spearheaded the collaborative investigation series Suspicion Machines, which revealed how machine learning algorithms used by welfare systems to detect fraud and errors were disproportionately targeting individuals based on ethnicity and gender. Through a series of freedom of information requests, the investigation shed light on the widespread use of these opaque systems in six European countries, starting in the Netherlands and expanding to Denmark, France, Serbia,

Lighthouse Reports Wins Inaugural Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-27T02:25:21+02:00

23 Sep 2024

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

Madrid 23 September 2024 – Access Info is proud to announce the three finalists for the first-ever Access Info Impact Award. The Access Info Impact Award aims to honour individuals and organisations that have effectively used their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, or anti-corruption efforts. After opening nominations last month, the award received 21 high-calibre entries from civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and citizens across Europe. A distinguished Evaluation Committee has carefully reviewed all the nominations and shortlisted the following three outstanding candidates: Lighthouse Reports - Uncovering discrimination in algorithmic decision-making The investigative series

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

12 Aug 2024

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

Madrid, 12 August 2024 – Access Info Europe today announces the launch of the Access Info Impact Award which celebrates those who have used their right to information to have a positive impact on society. The Access Info Impact Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, and/or anti-corruption efforts. By celebrating exemplary achievements of civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners across Europe, the award aims to highlight the importance of the right to information and inspire others to utilise this powerful tool. Through this award,

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

17 Jul 2024

35 organizaciones lanzan un manifiesto con medidas urgentes para mejorar la salud democrática en España

Rachel Hanna2024-07-17T16:33:42+02:00

Madrid, 17 de julio de 2024: Access Info, junto con más de 30 organizaciones, ha lanzado un manifiesto que demanda una mayor transparencia y participación ciudadana para la regeneración de la democracia española. Las organizaciones firmantes del manifiesto, que nace del convencimiento de que la regeneración democrática sólo es posible si se elabora de manera democrática, reclaman que se tomen medidas urgentes y prioritarias en el Plan de Acción por la Democracia que el Gobierno presenta hoy en el Pleno del Congreso de los Diputados. Estas entidades expresan su profunda preocupación por la falta de consulta a la sociedad

35 organizaciones lanzan un manifiesto con medidas urgentes para mejorar la salud democrática en EspañaRachel Hanna2024-07-17T16:33:42+02:00

28 Sep 2023

Priorities on 21st International Access to Information Day

Helen Darbishire2023-09-28T13:10:12+02:00

Madrid, 28 September 2023 – International Access to Information Day has gone from something founded by a small group of civil society activists from around the world in Sofia, Bulgaria on 28 September 2002, to a UN and UNESCO day, also celebrated by official bodies across the globe. Since International Access to Information Day was launched, international human rights courts and inter-governmental organisations, as well as the European Union treaties and many national constitutions have recognised a fundamental right of access to information. Challenges remain, however, and as this day – originally called Right to Know Day by those who

Priorities on 21st International Access to Information DayHelen Darbishire2023-09-28T13:10:12+02:00

26 Jan 2023

Malta: Access Info wins Court of Appeal ruling that all EU citizens have a right to submit information requests

Helen Darbishire2023-01-26T13:35:53+01:00

Madrid, 26 January 2023 - Malta’s Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Access Info that the Maltese government was discriminatory and violated the rights of EU citizens when it refused to register an information request by a non-Maltese citizen. This major win for the right of access to information stems back to an August 2019 request by an Italian citizen working with Access Info, who asked for data on the return of migrants. The Maltese Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security refused to register the request stating that an “eligible person” under Malta’s 2008 Freedom of

Malta: Access Info wins Court of Appeal ruling that all EU citizens have a right to submit information requestsHelen Darbishire2023-01-26T13:35:53+01:00

22 Dec 2022

Global Data Barometer: What the EU should do to close the data gap

Helen Darbishire2023-01-12T10:51:08+01:00

Madrid, 22 December 2022 – Access Info is today calling on the European Union and EU Member States to act to ensure that data needed for priority issues such as for preventing corruption and tackling climate change, is made public in all countries. This call comes following the publication on 16 December 2022 of the report “The State of Data for the Public Good in Europe” with results of the Global Data Barometer for the European region, with concerning findings such as low scores for Climate Action data at only 44% and Political Integrity – data essential to prevent

Global Data Barometer: What the EU should do to close the data gapHelen Darbishire2023-01-12T10:51:08+01:00

9 Dec 2022

Missing Data Opens the Door to Corruption

Helen Darbishire2022-12-14T16:44:05+01:00

Madrid, 9 December 2022 – On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, Access Info is calling on European governments to do more to ensure that the data needed for preventing corruption is both collected and made public. In the wake of the shock ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which has already suspended access to beneficial ownership registers in various countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands, Access Info warns that it is not only data on the owners of businesses that is missing. Access Info’s research as part of

Missing Data Opens the Door to CorruptionHelen Darbishire2022-12-14T16:44:05+01:00

8 Dec 2022

No Biodiversity: Europe’s Missing Climate Action Data

Helen Darbishire2022-12-14T16:43:26+01:00

Madrid, 8 December 2022 – As the UN Biodiversity Conference opens in Montreal, Canada, Access Info has raised concerns about the shortage of biodiversity data with the Global Data Barometer findings being only 43% for biodiversity data in European countries, and only 27% globally. Our research found that no biodiversity data is published online in six (6) European countries, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. The Global Data Barometer also found a score for Emissions data of 61% in Europe against just 32% globally, with worrying little data on Vulnerabilities to climate change at a low 28%

No Biodiversity: Europe’s Missing Climate Action DataHelen Darbishire2022-12-14T16:43:26+01:00

6 Dec 2022

Not all Expression is Lobbying

Helen Darbishire2023-01-11T12:13:43+01:00

Submission to OECD Consultation on Lobbying and Influence Madrid, 6 December 2022 – In its analysis of the draft OECD Recommendation on the regulation of lobbying and influence, Access Info has warned of the risk of some governments using the proposed provisions to limit media freedom and freedom of expression in the name of regulating “influence” and ensuring that public officials are “shielded from undue influence”. In the full version of its submission to the consultation on the OECD Recommendation on Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying and Influence (hereinafter “Draft Recommendation) [1], Access Info highlights concerns about the broad

Not all Expression is LobbyingHelen Darbishire2023-01-11T12:13:43+01:00