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| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/help/about.rhtml | 57 |
1 files changed, 46 insertions, 11 deletions
diff --git a/app/views/help/about.rhtml b/app/views/help/about.rhtml index e9434f379..c691e9d75 100644 --- a/app/views/help/about.rhtml +++ b/app/views/help/about.rhtml @@ -206,6 +206,28 @@ already explains it in detail. <dl> +<dt id="top">I just got here from bottom of an FOI request, what is going on?</dt> + +<dd><p>WhatDoTheyKnow is a service run by a charity. It helps ordinary members +of the public make FOI requests, and easily track and share the responses.</p> + +<p>The FOI request you got was made by someone using WhatDoTheyKnow. You can +simply reply to the request as you would any other request from an individual. +The only difference is that your response will be automatically published on +the Internet. +</p> +<p>If you have privacy or copyright concerns, please read the answers below. +You might also like to read this page <a +href="/help/about">from the top</a> to find out more about what +the site does from the point of view of a user. You can also search the +site to find the authority that you work for, and view the status of +any requests made using the site. + +<p>Finally, we welcome comments and +thoughts from FOI officers, please <a href="/help/contact">get in touch</a>. +</p> +</dd> + <dt id="responses">Why are you publishing responses to FOI requests?</dt> <dd>Freedom of Information responses contain public information, which anybody could @@ -217,21 +239,34 @@ more involved and interested in the work of government. <dt id="realpeople">Are the people making requests real people?</dt> -<dd>Yes. This website is a service to help ordinary members of the public -make FOI requests, and easily track the responses. The people are real -people, for whom we have a verified email address unique to each person. +<dd> <p>Yes. The people are real people, for whom we have a verified email address +unique to each person. </p> +<p>Each request made by each person is also given a unique email, so that we +can keep track of and publish the responses. But if it says the same name +on two requests, they were made by the same person. +</p> +</dd> + +<dt id="email_only">An email isn't a sufficient address for an FOI request!</dt> + +<dd>Yes it is. This +<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1142/response/2894/attach/5/20080806100741260.pdf">letter from the ICO to Rother District Council</a> gives guidance on the matter, specifically +in the context of requests made via WhatDoTheyKnow. </dd> <dt id="vexatious">Aren't you making lots of vexatious requests?</dt> -<dd>WhatDoTheyKnow is not making any requests. We are sending requests on -behalf of our users, who are real people making the requests. Look at it like -this - if lots of different people made requests from different Hotmail email -addresses, then you would not think that Microsoft were making vexatious -requests. It is exactly the same if lots of requests are made via -WhatDoTheyKnow. Moreover, since all requests are public it is much easier for -you to see if one of our users is making vexatious requests, and for us to -block them when that happens.</dd> +<dd><p>WhatDoTheyKnow is not making any requests. We are sending requests on +behalf of our users, who are real people making the requests. </p> +<p>Look at it like this - if lots of different people made requests from +different Hotmail email addresses, then you would not think that Microsoft were +making vexatious requests. It is exactly the same if lots of requests are made +via WhatDoTheyKnow. Moreover, since all requests are public it is much easier +for you to see if one of our users is making vexatious requests, and for us to +block them when that happens. </p> +<p>If that isn't enough for you, the +<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1142/response/2894/attach/5/20080806100741260.pdf">letter from the ICO to Rother District Council</a> gives some guidance on the matter.</p> +</dd> <dt id="copyright">Won't I be breaking copyright law by sending a response that you then publish?</dt> |