Friedrich Merkel‑Era Government Faces Broad Criticism Over IFG Reform

The coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to amend Germany’s Information Freedom Act (IFG), which has guaranteed unrestricted public access to official documents since 2006. The proposed changes would limit requestors to “persons living in Germany who are German or EU citizens,” require proof of a “legitimate interest,” and introduce a cost‑recovery model that could make simple requests payable.

Federal Data Protection Commissioner Louisa Specht‑Riemenschneider warned that the reforms amount to “a repeal of the twenty‑year‑old right to information” and would discriminate against residents and overseas voters. She warned that “the essential principle of unconditional access would be turned on its head.” Critics from the Left party, the German Journalists’ Union, and the transparency NGO FragDenStaat described the proposal as an attack on press freedom and a move toward a “black box” that shields government actions from scrutiny. The coalition argues the changes are needed to address “current challenges” and will be coordinated with the data‑protection office.

The debate has sparked widespread opposition from data‑privacy advocates, journalists, and civil‑society groups, who fear increased bureaucratic hurdles, higher costs for requests, and a weakening of democratic oversight.