From c52742cb7c587ed7486686e8ddbe2c4fe51e4365 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Seb Bacon Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:36:23 +0000 Subject: various help files that would normally need to be localised --- lib/views/help/api.rhtml | 82 ++++++++++++ lib/views/help/credits.rhtml | 90 +++++++++++++ lib/views/help/officers.rhtml | 245 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ lib/views/help/privacy.rhtml | 184 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml | 285 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 5 files changed, 886 insertions(+) create mode 100644 lib/views/help/api.rhtml create mode 100644 lib/views/help/credits.rhtml create mode 100644 lib/views/help/officers.rhtml create mode 100644 lib/views/help/privacy.rhtml create mode 100644 lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml (limited to 'lib/views/help') diff --git a/lib/views/help/api.rhtml b/lib/views/help/api.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f27cf9 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/api.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +<% @title = "Application Programming Interface - API" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%=@title %>

+ +

Introduction

+ +

This page explains how programmers can make other websites and software +interact with WhatDoTheyKnow via an "API". +

+ +

WhatDoTheyKnow does not have a full API yet, but we are gradually adding +lots of things that are similar in use to an API as they are requested. +

+ +
+ +

1. Linking to new requests

+ +

To encourage your users to make links to a particular public authority, use URLs of the form +<%= link_to new_request_to_body_url(:url_name => "liverpool_city_council") , new_request_to_body_url(:url_name => "liverpool_city_council") %>. +These are the parameters you can add to those URLs, either in the URL or from a form. + +

+ +
+ +

2. RSS (actually, Atom) feeds

+ +

There are Atom feeds on most pages which list FOI requests, which you can +use to get updates and links in XML format. Find the URL of the Atom feed in +one of these ways: +

+ +

In particular, even complicated search queries have Atom feeds. +You can do all sorts of things with them, such as query by authority, by file +type, by date range, or by status. See the advanced search +tips for details. + +

+ +

3. JSON structured data

+ +

Quite a few pages have JSON versions, which let you download information about +objects in a structured form. Find them by: +

+

+ +

Requests, users and authorities all have JSON versions containing basic +information about them. Every Atom feed has a JSON equivalent, containing +information about the list of events in the feed. +

+ +
+

4. Spreadsheet of all authorities

+ +

+A spreadsheet file listing every body in WhatDoTheyKnow is available: +<%= link_to "all-authorities.csv", all_public_bodies_csv_url() %> +

+ +
+ +

Please contact us if you need an API feature that isn't there yet. It's +very much a work in progress, and we do add things when people ask us to.

+ + + + diff --git a/lib/views/help/credits.rhtml b/lib/views/help/credits.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce7b5f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/credits.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,90 @@ +<% @title = "Credit where credit is due" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%= @title%> #

+ +
+ +
Which people made WhatDoTheyKnow? #
+
Oh, nearly everyone (and maybe you too)! +
    +
  • + Heather Brooke + (vampy!) has + been pushing the idea of a UK FOI archive for years now. +
    • +
  • + Both Phil Rodgers and Francis Irving + entered it in a mySociety competition for ideas for public interest websites to build. +
    • +
  • + It won, + and then Chris Lightfoot (RIP :() + thought up the wheeze of intercepting email responses to requests and + automatically publishing them. +
    • +
  • + Tom Steinberg got the cash to pay for the site from + a dead chocolate mogul (thank you!) ... +
    • +
  • + ... so that Francis Irving, Angie Ahl, Tommy Martin, Louise Crow, Matthew Somerville + and Tom Steinberg could do the complex mixture of design and coding to build + what you see today. +
    • +
  • + Thanks particularly to Julian Todd (great blog!), + Francis Davey, and Etienne Pollard for using the site early on and giving + feedback (and/or legal advice!), and also to all our other users and + testers. +
    • +
  • + The amazing team of volunteers who run the site, answer your support + emails, maintain the database of public authorities and + so much more. + Thanks to John Cross, Ben Harris, Adam McGreggor, Alex Skene, + Richard Taylor. +
    • +
  • + Volunteers who have provided patches to the code - thanks Peter Collingbourne + and Tony Bowden. +
    • +
  • + Everyone who has helped look up FOI email addresses. +
    • +
  • + We couldn't do any of this without those + crazy people who volunteer, + amongst many other things, to do the accounts and fill in our VAT return. +
    • +
  • + Finally, all the officers and servants who have answered the many requests + made through the site. Their diligence, patience and professionalism is + what has actually made the information that you see here. Thank them for + helping make Government more transparent. +
    • +
+You're all stars. +
+ +
Can I help out? #
+
+

Yes please! We're built out of our supporters and volunteers.

+
    +
  • You can make a donation. We're a registered charity.
    • +
  • Help people find successful requests, and monitor performance of authorities, by + playing the categorisation game.
    • +
  • Find out FOI email addresses of authorities that we're missing.
    • +
  • Write a blog post about either WhatDoTheyKnow or an interesting request that you've + found. Post about it on a forum that you frequent. Tell friends about it.
  • If you're + a programmer, get the source code for our parent project, Alaveteli + and tell us about patches we can pull. It's made in Ruby on Rails. +
  • Read more about volunteering with mySociety. +
+
+ + + + + diff --git a/lib/views/help/officers.rhtml b/lib/views/help/officers.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b20ca3 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/officers.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,245 @@ +<% @title = "FOI officer questions" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%= @title %> #

+ +
+ +
I just got here from bottom of an FOI request, what is going on? #
+ +

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.

+ +

The FOI request you received 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. +

+

If you have privacy or other concerns, please read the answers below. +You might also like to read the introduction to WhatDoTheyKnow 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. + +

Finally, we welcome comments and +thoughts from FOI officers, please get in touch. +

+
+ +
Why are you publishing responses to FOI requests? #
+ +
We think there are lots of benefits. Most importantly it will encourage the +public to be more interested and involved in the work of government. We +also hope that it will reduce the number of duplicate requests on any +subject that a public body will receive. Given that Freedom of Information +responses contain public information, which anybody could easily request +again from the public authority, we think there should be no reason not to +publish it widely. +
+ +
Are the people making requests real people? #
+ +
Yes. For the purposes of keeping track of responses we use +computer-generated email addresses for each request. However, before +they can send a request, each user must register on the site with a +unique email address that we then verify. You can search this site and +find a page listing all requests that each person has made. +
+ +
An email isn't a sufficient address for an FOI request! #
+ +
Yes it is. This +letter from the ICO to Rother District Council gives guidance on the matter, specifically +in the context of requests made via WhatDoTheyKnow. +
+ +
Aren't you making lots of vexatious requests? #
+ +

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.

+

If that isn't enough for you, the +letter from the ICO to Rother District Council gives some guidance on the matter.

+
+ +
I can see a request on WhatDoTheyKnow, but we never got it by email!#
+ +

If a request appears on the site, then we have attempted to send it to +the authority by email. Any delivery failure messages will automatically +appear on the site. You can check the address we're using with the "View FOI +email address" link which appears on the page for the authority. Contact us if there is a better address we can +use.

+

Requests are sometimes not delivered because they are quietly removed by +"spam filters" in the IT department of the authority. Authorities can make +sure this doesn't happen by asking their IT departments to "whitelist" +any email from @whatdotheyknow.com. +If you ask us we will resend any request, +and/or give technical details of delivery so an IT department can chase +up what happened to the message. +

+

Finally, you can respond to any request from your web browser, without +needing any email, using the "respond to request" link at the bottom of +each request page. +

+ +
How do you calculate the deadline shown on request pages?#
+ +
+

The Freedom of Information Act says:

+ +

A public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and +in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of +receipt.

+ +

The nerdy detail of exactly how weekends are counted, and what happens if +the request arrives out of office hours, is just that - detail. What matters +here is that the law says authorities must respond promptly.

+ +

If you've got a good reason why the request is going to take a while to +process, requesters find it really helpful if you can send a quick email with a +sentence or two saying what is happening.

+ +

FOI officers often have to do a lot of hard work to answer +requests, and this is hidden from the public. We think it would help everyone +to have more of that complexity visible.

+ +
+ +
But really, how do you calculate the deadline?#
+ +
+ +

Please read the answer to the previous question first. Legally, authorities +must respond promptly to FOI requests. If they fail to do that, +it is best if they show the hard work they are doing by explaining what is +taking the extra time to do. +

+ +

That said, WhatDoTheyKnow does show the maximum legal deadline +for response on each request. Here's how we calculate it.

+ +
    + +
  • If the day we deliver the request by email is a working day, we count that +as "day zero", even if it was delivered late in the evening. Days end at +midnight. We then count the next working day as "day one", and so on up to +20 working days.
    • + +
  • If the day the request email was delivered was a non-working day, we count +the next working day as "day one". Delivery is delivery, even if it happened on +the weekend. Some authorities disagree with this, our lawyer disagrees with them.
    • + +
  • Requesters are encouraged to mark when they have clarified +their request so the clock resets, but sometimes they get this wrong. If you +see a problem with a particular request, let us know and we'll fix it.
    • +
+ +

The date thus calculated is shown on requests with the text "By law, +Liverpool City Council should normally have responded by...". There is only +one case which is not normal, see the next question about +public interest test time extensions. +

+ +

Schools are also a special case, which WhatDoTheyKnow displays differently. +

+ +
    +
  • Since June 2009, schools have "20 working days +disregarding any working day which is not a school day, or 60 working days, +whichever is first" (FOI (Time for Compliance with Request) Regulations 2009). WhatDoTheyKnow indicates on requests to schools that the 20 day deadline is only +during term time, and shows them as definitely overdue after 60 working days +
    • +
+ +

If you're getting really nerdy about all this, read the detailed ICO guidance. +Meanwhile, remember that the law says authorities must respond +promptly. That's really what matters.

+ +
+ +
How do you reflect time extensions for public interest tests?#
+ +
+ +

The Freedom of Information Act lets authorities claim an indefinite time +extension when applying a public interest test. Information +Commissioner guidance says that it should only be used in "exceptionally +complex" cases +(FOI Good Practice Guidance No. 4). +WhatDoTheyKnow doesn't specifically handle this case, which is why we use the +phrase "should normally have responded by" when the 20 working day time is +exceeded. +

+ +

The same guidance says that, even in exceptionally complex cases, no +Freedom of Information request should take more than 40 working days +to answer. WhatDoTheyKnow displays requests which are overdue by that much +with stronger wording to indicate they are definitely late. +

+ +

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act does not allow such a public +interest extension. WhatDoTheyKnow would like to see the law changed to either +remove the extension from the UK Act, or to reintroduce an absolute time limit +of 40 working days even with the extension (the House of Lords voted +to remove provision for such a time limit during the initial passage +of the UK Act through Parliament). +

+
+ +
How can I send a large file, which won't go by email?#
+ +
Instead of email, you can respond to a request directly from your web +browser, including uploading a file. To do this, choose "respond to request" at +the bottom of the request's page. Contact us if it +is too big for even that (more than, say, 50Mb). +
+ +
Why do you publish the names of civil servants and the text of emails? #
+ +
We consider what officers or servants do in the course of their employment +to be public information. We will only remove content in exceptional +circumstances, see our take down policy. +
+ +
Do you publish email addresses or mobile phone numbers? #
+ +

To prevent spam, we automatically remove most emails and some mobile numbers from +responses to requests. Please contact us if we've +missed one. +For technical reasons we don't always remove them from attachments, such as certain PDFs.

+

If you need to know what an address was that we've removed, please get in touch with us. Occasionally, an email address +forms an important part of a response and we will post it up in an obscured +form in an annotation. +

+ + + +
Our Freedom of Information law is "applicant blind", so anyone in the +world can request the same document and get a copy of it. + +If you think our making a document available on the internet infringes your +copyright, you may contact us and ask us +to take it down. However, to save tax payers' money by preventing duplicate +requests, and for good public relations, we'd advise you not to do that. +
+ +
+ + +
+ +

If you haven't already, read the introduction --> +
Otherwise, the credits or the programmers API --> + +

+ + diff --git a/lib/views/help/privacy.rhtml b/lib/views/help/privacy.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0014271 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/privacy.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,184 @@ +<% @title = "Your privacy" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%= @title %> #

+ +
+ +
Who gets to see my email address? #
+ +

We will not disclose your email address to anyone unless we are obliged to by law, +or you ask us to. This includes the public authority that you are sending a +request to. They only get to see an email address +@whatdotheyknow.com which is specific to that request.

+

If you send a message to another user on the site, then it will reveal your +email address to them. You will be told that this is going to happen.

+
+ +
Will you send nasty, brutish spam to my email address? #
+
Nope. After you sign up to WhatDoTheyKnow we will only send you emails +relating to a request you made, an email alert that you have signed up for, +or for other reasons that you specifically authorise. We will never give or +sell your email addresses to anyone else, unless we are obliged to by law, or +you ask us to. +
+ +
Why will my name and my request appear publicly on the site? #
+ +
+

We publish your request on the Internet so that anybody can read it and +make use of the information that you have found. We do not normally delete +requests (more details). +

+

+Your name is tangled up with your request, so has to be published as well. +It is only fair, as we're going to publish the name of the civil servant who +writes the response to your request. Using your real name also helps people +get in touch with you to assist you with your research or to campaign with you. +

+

By law, you must use your real name for the request to be a valid Freedom of +Information request. See the next question for alternatives if you do not want +to publish your full name. +

+
+ +
Can I make an FOI request using a pseudonym? #
+ + +
+

Technically, you must use your real name for your request to be a valid Freedom of Information request in law. See this +guidance from the Information Commissioner (January 2009). +

+ +

However, the same guidance also says it is good practice for the public +authority to still consider a request made using an obvious pseudonym. +You should refer to this if a public authority refuses a request because you +used a pseudonym.

+ +

Be careful though, even if the authority follows this good practice, the +pseudonym will probably make it impossible for you to complain to the +Information Commissioner later about the handling of your request. +

+ +

There are several good alternatives to using a pseudonym.

+ +
    +
  • Use a different form of your name. The guidance says +that "Mr Arthur Thomas Roberts" can make a valid request as "Arthur Roberts", +"A. T. Roberts", or "Mr Roberts", but not as "Arthur" or "A.T.R.". +
    • +
  • Women may use their maiden name.
    • +
  • In most cases, you may use any name by which you are "widely known and/or +is regularly used". +
  • Use the name of an organisation, the name of a company, the trading name of +a company, or the trading name of a sole trader. +
  • Ask someone else to make the request on your behalf. +
  • You may, if you are really stuck, ask us to make the request on +your behalf. Please contact us with +a good reason why you cannot make the request yourself and cannot +ask a friend to. We don't have the resources to do this for everyone. +
+ +

Please do not try to impersonate someone else.

+ +
+ +
They've asked for my postal address! #
+ +
+

If a public authority asks you for your full, physical address, reply to them saying +that section 8.1.b of the FOI Act asks for an "address for correspondence", +and that the email address you are using is sufficient. +

+

+The Ministry of Justice has guidance +on this – +"As well as hard copy written correspondence, requests that are +transmitted electronically (for example, in emails) are acceptable +... If a request is received by email and no postal address is given, the email +address should be treated as the return address." + +

+

As if that isn't enough, the Information Commissioner's +Hints for Practitioners say +"Any correspondence could include a request for information. If it is written (this includes e-mail), legible, gives the name of the applicant, an address for reply (which could be electronic), and includes a description of the information required, then it will fall within the scope of the legislation." +

+
+ +
No no, they need a postal address to send a paper response! #
+ +
+

If an authority only has a paper copy of the information that you want, +they may ask you for a postal address. To start with, try persuading them +to scan in the documents for you. You can even offer to gift them a scanner, which in that particular case +embarrassed the authority into finding one they had already.

+ +

If that doesn't work, and you want to provide your postal address privately +in order to receive the documents, mark your request as "They are going to reply by post", and it will +give you an email address to use for that purpose.

+
+ +
Can you delete my requests, or alter my name? #
+ +
+ +

WhatDoTheyKnow is a permanent, public archive of Freedom of +Information requests. Even though you may not find the response to +a request useful any more, it may be of interest to others. For this +reason, we will not delete requests. +

+ +

Under exceptional circumstances we may remove or change your name +on the website, see the next question. +Similarly, we may also remove other personal information. +

+ +

If you're worried about this before you make your request, +see the section on pseudonyms.

+ +
+ +
Can you take down personal information about me? #
+ +
+ +

If you see any personal information about you on the site which you'd like +us to remove or hide, then please let us know. +Specify exactly what information you believe to be problematic and why, and +where it appears on the site.

+ +

If it is sensitive personal information that has been accidentally +posted, then we will usually remove it. Normally we will only consider +requests to remove personal information which come from the individual +concerned, but for sensitive information we would appreciate anyone +pointing out anything they see.

+ +

We consider that there is a strong public interest in +retaining the names of officers or servants of public authorities. We will only +remove such names in exceptional circumstances, such as where the disclosure of +a name and position of employment would substantially risk an individual's +safety. If you are such an official and you wish to have your name removed for +such an urgent reason, you must supply us with a request to do so from your +line manager. This request must demonstrate that a risk has been perceived +which outweighs the public interest, and must demonstrate that efforts have +been made to conceal the name on the organisation's own website.

+ +

For all other requests we apply a public interest test to decide +whether information should be removed. + Section 32 +of the Data Protection Act 1998 permits us to do this, as the material we +publish is journalistic. We cannot easily edit many types of attachments (such +as PDFs, or Microsoft Word or Excel files), so we will usually ask +that authorities resend these with the personal information removed.

+ +
+ + +
+ +

Learn more from the help for FOI officers --> + +

+ + diff --git a/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml b/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..034bb31 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/views/help/requesting.rhtml @@ -0,0 +1,285 @@ +<% @title = "Making requests" %> + +<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %> + +

<%= @title %> #

+
+ +
I'm not sure which authority to make my request to, how can I find out? #
+ +
+

It can be hard to untangle government's complicated structured, and work out +who knows the information that you want. Here are a few tips: +

    +
  • Browse or search WhatDoTheyKnow looking for similar requests to yours.
    • +
  • When you've found an authority you think might have the information, use +the "home page" link on the right hand side of their page to check what they do +on their website.
    • +
  • Contact the authority by phone or email to ask if they hold the kind of +information you're after.
    • +
  • Don't worry excessively about getting the right authority. If you get it +wrong, they ought to advise you who to make the request to instead. +
    • +
  • If you've got a thorny case, please contact us for help.
    • +
+ +
+ + + +
You're missing the public authority that I want to request from! #
+ +
+

Please contact us with the name of the public authority and, +if you can find it, their contact email address for Freedom of Information requests. +

+

If you'd like to help add a whole category of public authority to the site, we'd love +to hear from you too. +

+ +
+ +
Why do you include some authorities that aren't formally subject to FOI?#
+ +
+

WhatDoTheyKnow lets you make requests for information to a range of +organisations:

+ +
    +
  • Those formally subject to the FOI Act
    • +
  • Those formally subject to the Environmental Regulations (a less well + defined group)
    • +
  • Those which voluntarily comply with the FOI Act
    • +
  • Those which aren't subject to the Act but we think should be, on grounds + such as them having significant public responsibilities. +
    • +
+ +

In the last case, we're using the site to lobby for expansion of the +scope of the FOI Act. Even if an organisation is not legally obliged to respond +to an FOI request, they can still do so voluntarily. +

+ +
+ +
Why must I keep my request focused?#
+ +
+ +

+Please put in your request only what is needed so that someone can +easily identify what information you are asking for. Please do +not include any of the following: +

+ +
    +
  • arguments about your cause
    • +
  • statements that could defame or insult others
    • +
+ +

+If you do, we may have to remove your request to avoid problems with +libel law, which is a pain for both you and us. Short, succinct messages +make it easier for authorities to be clear what information you are +requesting, which means you will get a reply more quickly. +

+ +

+If you want information to support an argument or campaign, Freedom of +Information is a powerful tool. Although you may not use this site to +run your campaign, we encourage you to use it to get the information you +need. We also encourage to run your campaign elsewhere - one effective +and very easy way is to <%= link_to 'start your own blog', +"http://wordpress.com/"%>. You are welcome to link to your campaign +from this site in an annotation to your request (you can make +annotations after submitting the request). +

+ +
+ +
Does it cost me anything to make a request?#
+ +
+ +

Making an FOI request is nearly always free.

+ +

Authorities often include unnecessary, scary, boilerplate in +acknowledgement messages saying they "may" charge a fee. Ignore such notices. +They hardly ever will actually charge a fee. If they do, they can only charge you if +you have specifically agreed in advance to pay. More + details from the Information Commissioner. +

+ +

Sometimes an authority will refuse your request, saying that the cost +of handling it exceeds £600 (for central government) or £450 (for all other +public authorities). At this point you can refine your +request. e.g. it would be much cheaper for an authority to tell you the amount +spent on marshmallows in the past year than in the past ten years. +

+ +
+ + + +
How quickly will I get a response? #
+ +
+

By law, public authorities must respond promptly to +requests. +

+ +

Even if they are not prompt, in nearly all cases they must respond within +20 working days. If you had to clarify your request, or they are a school, +or one or two other cases, then they may have more time +(full details). + +

WhatDoTheyKnow will email you if you don't get a timely response. You can +then send the public authority a message to remind them, and tell them if they +are breaking the law.

+ +
+ +
What if I never get a response?#
+ +
+

There are several things you can do if you never get a response.

+
    +
  • Sometimes there has been a genuine problem and the authority never + received the request. It is worth telephoning the authority and politely + checking that they received the request. It was sent to them by email. +
    • +
  • If they have not received it, the problem is most likely due to + "spam filters". Refer the authority to the measures in the answer + 'I can see a request on WhatDoTheyKnow, but we never got it by email!' + in the FOI officers section of this help. +
    • +
  • If you're still having no luck, then you can ask for an internal review, + and then complain to the Information Commissioner about the authority. + Read our page 'Unhappy about the response you got?'. +
+
+ +
What if I'm not satisfied with the response? #
+
If you didn't get the information you asked for, or you didn't get it in time, +then read our page 'Unhappy about the response you got?'. +
+ +
It says I can't re-use the information I got!#
+
+

Authorities often add legal boilerplate about the +"Re-Use of Public Sector +Information Regulations 2005", which at first glance implies you may not +be able do anything with the information. +

+ +

You can, of course, write articles about the information or summarise it, or +quote parts of it. We also think you should feel free to republish the +information in full, just as we do, even though in theory you might not be +allowed to do so. See our policy on copyright.

+ +
+ +
Can you tell me more of the nitty gritty about the process of making requests? #
+ +
+

Have a look at the +access to official information +pages on the Information Commissioner's website.

+ +

If you're requesting information from a Scottish public authority, +the process is very similar. There are differences around time +limits for compliance. +See the Scottish +Information Commissioner's guidance for details.

+
+ +
Can I request information about myself? #
+ +
+

No. Requests made using WhatDoTheyKnow are public, made under the Freedom of +Information Act, and cannot help you find information about a private +individual.

+ +

If you would like to know what information a public +authority holds about yourself, you should make a "Subject Access Request" in +private using Data Protection law. The leaflet "How to access your information" (on the Information Commissioner's +website) explains how to do this.

+ +

If you see that somebody has included personal information, perhaps +unwittingly, in a request, please contact us +immediately so we can remove it.

+
+ + +
I'd like to keep my request secret! (At least until I publish my story) #
+ +

WhatDoTheyKnow is currently only designed for public requests. All +responses that we receive are automatically published on the website for anyone +to read.

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You should contact the public authority directly if you would like to +make a request in private. If you're interested in buying a system which helps +you manage FOI requests in secret, then contact us. +

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Why can I only request information about the environment from some authorities? #
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Some public authorities, such as South East Water, +don't come under the Freedom of Information Act, but do come under another law called +the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). +

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It's a very similar law, so you make a request +to them using WhatDoTheyKnow in just the same way as an FOI request. The only +difference is that on the page where your write you request, it reminds you +that you can only request "environmental information" and tells you what that +means. It is quite broad. +

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You can, of course, request environmental information from other +authorities. Just make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request as normal. The +authority has a duty to work out if the Environmental Information Regulations +(EIR) is the more appropriate legislation to reply under. +

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Can I make the same to request to lots of authorities, e.g. all councils? #
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We ask you to first send a test version of your request to a few +authorities. Their responses will help you improve the wording of your request, +so that you get the best information when you send the request to all of +the authorities. There is currently no automated system for sending the request +to the other authorities, you must copy and paste it by hand. + +
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I made a request off the site, how do I upload it to the archive?#
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WhatDoTheyKnow is an archive of requests made through the site, +and does not try to be an archive of all FOI requests. We'll never support uploading +other requests. For one thing, we wouldn't be able to verify that other +responses actually came from the authority. If this really matters to you, +you can always make the same request again via WhatDoTheyKnow. +
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How do you moderate request annotations? #
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Annotations on WhatDoTheyKnow are to help +people get the information they want, or to give them pointers to places they +can go to help them act on it. We reserve the right to remove anything else. +

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Endless, political discussions are not allowed. +Post a link to a suitable forum or campaign site elsewhere.

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Next, read about your privacy --> + +

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