Campaign for Freedom of Information

Description

The Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFOI) is a UK organisation that advocates for freedom of information and open government. It was set up in 1984.

Its director drafted a series of Private Members’ Bills that became law. These included the Access to Personal Files Act 1987, the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, the Environment and Safety Information Act 1988 and the Access to Health Records Act 1990. He also served on the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Group on implementing the Freedom of Information Act, and on the Commonwealth Group of Experts whose Freedom of Information Principles were adopted by Commonwealth Law Ministers in 1999. He received an OBE in 2004 for services to open government.

The Campaign is run by a small staff, including a senior policy officer and administrative support. It also has a voluntary board drawn from backgrounds in law, journalism, data protection, human rights and public administration. Several board members have direct experience using the Freedom of Information Act, including in investigative journalism and legal campaigns to uncover secret government reports.

The Campaign works from home rather than a physical office, since its former premises at the Free Word Centre closed.