Germany Plans to Tighten Freedom of Information Act

Germany Freedom of Information Act transparency legitimate interest NGO opposition

The coalition committee of Germany's governing parties (CDU/CSU and SPD) has approved a package of amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (IFG), the law that has allowed public access to official documents since 2006.

The draft would restrict requests to natural persons, require a proof of a “legitimate interest”, limit requesters to German or EU citizens, remove the €500 fee cap and allow higher charges, and permit routine redaction of officials’ names. It would also exclude many NGOs and media organisations from filing requests.

A broad alliance of NGOs, journalists’ unions, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, publishers and the SPD parliamentary group has criticised the measures, saying they would erode transparency, press freedom and democratic oversight.

Within the SPD, deputy Philipp Türmer urged his party to block the changes, while the coalition argues the reforms are needed to reduce bureaucracy and protect critical infrastructure.