Tessera

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland

@cfoiscot.bsky.social

CFolS campaigns for a robust legal right to access information so people can find out how they are governed and how 'public' services operate.

215 Posts199 Follower 321 Folgt

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3d ago

Predictable opposition from private care sector to empowering service users & their families exercising enforceable FoI rights. We expect ScotGovt to legislate 2 enable informed scrutiny! @unison.org.uk @scottishtuc.bsky.social @gmbcampaigns.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2642982...

Information commissioner backs extending FOI for care homes but operators resist

Scotland's care home providers have urged ministers to exempt them from Freedom of Information law but families and unpaid carers who responded…

heraldscotland.com

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · last mo.

Nominations for the 2026 Helen Darbishire Award are invited to celebrate those who use access 2 information rights to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency & government accountability, anti-corruption efforts, or environmental protection. @nujscotland.bsky.social

Application and Nomination Form

The Helen Darbishire Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right of access to information to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency and government accountability, ...

docs.google.com

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Thank you to all who attended yesterday's successful meeting of the Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) at the Scottish Parliament and online.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Clarity on new case management measure it “will not be applied generally to all individuals” who have more than 5 FoI appeals at any one time - used only when an evidenced pattern of appeal submissions likely to have a negative impact on the whole FOI regime. www.foi.scot/new-measure-...

New measure aims to protect FOI rights from danger of 'AI overload' | Scottish Information Commissioner

Read more about a new preventative measure to protect FOI rights from the impact of large volumes of 'machine generated' requests and appeals.

foi.scot

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

CFoIS invites you to the Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF), taking place at the Scottish Parliament and online on this coming Monday at 10:30AM! Book a free ticket via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/1989315598... #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

CFoIS Director Carole Ewart has written for @thirdforcenews.bsky.social about the progress of the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill, which will be considered at Stage 2 by newly elected MSPs. Read the article here: tfn.scot/opinion/will... #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #ati

Text reads: CFoIS Director writes about the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill for Third Force News
Screenshot of Third Force News website article 'Will MSPs meet demands for FoI reform?'

Just Fair @justfairuk.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🚨 Breaking: 76 civil society orgs have written to the UK Gov calling for economic, social & cultural rights to be recognised. 50 years ago today, the UK ratified #ICESCR50 and promised rights including housing, food & health. That promise remains unfulfilled. Read 👇 justfair.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Great news! Freedom of Information awareness in Scotland is at its highest ever. Read the full report from the Scottish Information Commissioner here: www.foi.scot/public-aware... #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi (1/2)

Photo shows a laptop and a piece of paper with a pencil on top
Text reads: Great News! Freedom of Information awareness in Scotland is at its highest ever.

Text reads: Research published in May 2026 by the Scottish Information Commissioner finds public awareness of FoI in Scotland has reached its highest level since the right was introduced in 2005.

Of the 1,057 adults surveyed, 93% reported having heard of FoI, an increase of 5% since the 2024 poll.

Support for FoI remains strong, with respondents viewing it as an important contributor to openness and accountability.

Text reads: The polling also revealed that:
97% think it's important for the public to be able to access information held by public bodies;
75% believe FoI helps to prevent bad practice in public bodies;
90% are more likely to trust an organisation that publishes a lot of information about its work; and
93% believe public bodies should provide support to people who want to access public information.

Text reads: There is a gap between expectation and practice – 43% said they were not confident they would receive a response to an FoI request but most Scottish public bodies do comply with the law. In the last year, they responded within the 20 working days timeframe, to more than 86% of the 110,000+ requests received and 76% of requests resulted in full or partial disclosure of information.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Our Blog explains why reforming Scotland’s FoI law is supported by the public and the already tabled bill is an opportunity for all our newly elected MSPs to quickly deliver on a matter of public interest and fix evidenced problems tfn.scot/opinion/will...

Will MSPs meet demands for FoI reform? - TFN

Carole Ewart on the progress of Katy Clark MSP’s Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill

tfn.scot

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

SLAPPs are a society-wide problem and need a society-wide remedy, yet the UK Government remains silent on protecting courts and public interest speech. A huge missed opportunity that will affect everyone antislapp.uk/2026/05/13/k... #StopSLAPPs #KingsSpeech

Yet again, anti-SLAPP provisions are missing from the King's Speech. We all stand to lose out. - UK Anti-Slapp Coalition

The 2026 King's Speech did not include a commitment to stop SLAPPs, leaving everyone who speaks out vulnerable

antislapp.uk

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Today is the King's Speech for UK government to outline its priorities. We have a question: will journalists, campaigners & activists be protected from legal bullies weaponising the law 2 silence public interest speech? Will UK govt commit to anti-SLAPP legislation? #StopSLAPPs

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

CFoIS invites you to the Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF), taking place at the Scottish Parliament and online on the 8th of June at 10:30AM! Book a free ticket via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/1989315598... #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Text reads: Event

The Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) will meet on the 8th of June, chaired by John McLellan from Newsbrands Scotland

Free

Location: Committee Room 5,
Scottish Parliament Building,
Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP or join online

Monday 8 June at 10:30 - 12:30 GMT

Text reads: The Scottish Public Information Forum (SPIF) will meet on the 8th of June, chaired by John McLellan from Newsbrands Scotland.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Text reads: Speaker:
Katy Clark MSP on progressing the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill through Stages 2 and 3 at the Scottish Parliament.

Reports will be given by:
David Hamilton, the Scottish Information Commissioner
The Scottish Government
CFoIS

Text reads: Book a free ticket via Eventbrite now.

The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Campaigners are calling for transparency around plans to expand Scotland’s only AI growth zone on green belt land

Anger over plans to expand Scotland’s only AI growth zone on green belt land

thenational.scot

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Media freedom under pressure - despite policy and legal progress. “Public service media (PSM) came under increasing pressure, choked by political interference or financial instability, severely impairing its ability to provide unbiased and diverse public information.”

Liberties.EU@liberties.eu · 3mo ago

1/ 🔥The Liberties Media Freedom Report 2026 is hot off the press 🗞️ #MediaFreedomReport2026 key takeaways: media freedom and pluralism in the EU continued to deteriorate in 2025 — despite new EU rules meant to strengthen protections. Read the full report: link.liberties.eu/c1f12c 👇🧵

Liberties.EU @liberties.eu · 3mo ago

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Please support the CFoIS Manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections to secure transparency by design across public services. #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #scotland #election

Text reads: Holyrood Manifesto
Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFoIS)
CFoIS invites all candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections to support our Manifesto listing 6 actions to mainstream transparency by design across the delivery of public services.

1. Support the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill when it begins the Stage 2 process at the Scottish Parliament from May 2026 and ensure it becomes law at the earliest opportunity.

2. Following the public consultation exercises in 2019 and 2025, equalise designation of public bodies under FoI law which deliver care homes and care at home services.

3. Agree a proportionate uplift in budget for the independent Scottish Information Commissioner, who is appointed by the Parliament, to accommodate the increasing need for their investigative, mediation, adjudication and enforcement functions.

4. Commit to supporting and passing Anti-SLAPP legislation early in the new session of Parliament.

5. Work with the UK...

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Today, CFoIS launches its manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections to secure transparency by design across public services. #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #foi #scotland #election

Text reads:
Holyrood Manifesto
Campaign for Freedom of Information (CFoIS)

Text reads:
CFoIS invites all candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections to support our Manifesto listing 6 actions to mainstream transparency by design across the delivery of public services.

Text reads:
1. Support the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill when it begins the Stage 2 process at the Scottish Parliament from May 2026 and ensure it becomes law at the earliest opportunity.

2. Following the public consultation exercises in 2019 and 2025, equalise designation of public bodies under FoI law which deliver care homes and care at home services.

3. Agree a proportionate uplift in budget for the independent Scottish Information Commissioner, who is appointed by the Parliament, to accommodate the increasing need for their investigative, mediation, adjudication

Text reads:
4. Commit to supporting and passing Anti-SLAPP legislation early in the new session of Parliament.

5. Work with the UK Government to sign and ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on Access to Official Documents, known as the Tromsø Convention.

6. Support mainstreaming a “duty of candour” in devolved matters across government and Scotland’s 10,000 public bodies.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Yesterday was Anti-SLAPP Day of Action No matter your role - journalist, researcher, campaigner, survivor, or whistleblower - you should be protected when speaking in the public interest We are calling for universal protections against SLAPPs. Take action: antislapp.uk/solutions/ta... #StopSLAPPs

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Do you want news stories about transparency and accountability sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our newsletter here: www.cfois.scot/support-us/ #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Do you want to find out more about Freedom of Information in Europe? Sign up to our newsletter here: www.cfois.scot/support-us/ #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Have a look inside the March instalment of our newsletter! If you want to find out more, sign up to our newsletter here: www.cfois.scot/support-us/ #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi

Text reads: Stage 1 of the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill Update
Scottish Government consultation on extending FoI to the care sector deadline
Scottish Government's Hamilton Inquiry case handling criticised by the Independent Regulator
Scottish FoI practitioners win at eCase Awards 2026
FoI in Europe
and more...
CFoIS

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

A new Code of Practice relating to Freedom of Information was published yesterday. Read the Code here: www.gov.scot/publications... #freedomofinformation #accesstoinformation #politics #scotland #foi

Text reads: New FoI code of practice published
Photo shows documents

Text reads: On the 25th of March, a new Code of Practice relating to Freedom of Information practice was published.
It provides updated and improved guidance on public bodies compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoISA). The new guidance can help requestors to formulate their requests, as well as assist FoI practitioners when responding to requests.
CFoIS

Text reads: The new code includes updated guidance on:
responsibility for FOI within an authority;
proactively publishing information;
the provision of advice and assistance by authorities to people who propose to make, or have made, requests for information;
responding to requests;
handling a request for information;
training and staffing arrangements;
records management and searching for information;
transferring requests to other authorities;
CFoIS

Text reads: consulting third parties to whom information requested relates, or people whose interests are likely to be affected by the disclosure of such information;
the disclosure of contractual and procurement-related information;
responding to reviews;
monitoring compliance, collecting and recording statistics about request handling; and
appeals to the Commissioner.
CFoIS

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Will the Scottish Government face another court case over FoI non-compliance? Read the Scottish Information Commissioner’s full statement at www.foi.scot/preposterous... #FoIReformNow #secretscotland #freedomofinformation #foi #accesstoinformation

Text reads: Secret Scotland
Will the Scottish Government face another court case over FoI non-compliance?
CFoIS
Graphic shows a redacted document

Text reads: The Scottish Information Commissioner has said that he is considering a second contempt of court case over the Scottish Government’s handling of an FoI request related to the Hamilton Inquiry.
At First Minister’s Questions on 19th March 2026, Katy Clark MSP asked FM John Swinney if he will commit to providing all the information required under decision notice 193/2024 and sought reassurance that he is not considering using the First Minister’s veto, under s52 of FoISA, to keep the information secret from the public.

Text reads: The First Minister avoided answering whether or not he will use the Ministerial veto, a power which has not been used since FoISA came into effect in 2005. Katy Clark MSP’s Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill, introduced to Parliament in June 2025, seeks to remove the First Minister’s veto power, a provision that the SPPA Committee’s Stage 1 Report supported. The Bill passed Stage 1 and is set to return in the next session of Parliament.

Text reads: CFoIS encourages everyone to support the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill at Stages 2 and 3 in the new session of Parliament, after the 7th of May, and promises to raise these and other issues as the Bill progresses. These kind of problems simply strengthen the case that FoISA needs reformed urgently to close legal loopholes and strengthen the enforcement powers of the independent Commissioner.

Severin Carrell @severincarrell.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Almost all of the most viral posts reviewed by WIRED on Saturday came from accounts with blue check marks, meaning they pay X for its premium service and could be eligible to earn money based on how much engagement their posts generate, even if the content is false

WIRED@wired.com · 5mo ago

Minutes after Donald Trump announced that the US and Israeli governments had launched a “major combat operation” against Iran, disinformation about the attack and Tehran’s response flooded X. wrd.cm/4aYONte

Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 5mo ago

🎙️Listen to CFOI Director Maurice Frankel OBE on the latest episode of the Guardians of Data Podcast, discussing the remarkable story behind the UK’s FOI Act Do not miss previous podcasts with the excellent @jonbainesdata.bsky.social and @lynnwyeth.bsky.social! actnowtraining.blog/2026/03/04/g...

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Tonight the general principles of Katy Clark MSP's FoI Reform Bill were supported by 63 MSPs with 59 against. The Bill will return in the next session of Parliament. CFoIS accepts the challenge to work for its quick progression to restore FoI rights and strengthen enforcement of duties.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Scot Parl has voted for the general principles of Katy Clark MSP's FoI Reform Bill but amended by @suewebbermsp.bsky.social to 'highlight the time pressure in the current parliamentary session and the views in the stage 1 report, including that FoI reform should be addressed in the next parliament'

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Thank you to @suewebbermsp.bsky.social and Annie Wells MSP for agreeing that legislation is needed to reform FoI law in Scotland and their support going forward to make that happen.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Thanks to Katy Clark MSP & @richardleonardmsp.bsky.social for setting out clearly the reasons for, & urgency, of FoI reform. Thanks also to @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social @patrickharvie.bsky.social & Graham Simpson MSP for supporting the FoI Bill's general principles. We await the vote tonight at 7:30.

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The SPPA Committee concluded in its Stage 1 report that “legislation is now needed to update the freedom of information regime in Scotland.” MSPs should show their support by voting for the Bill at Stage 1 and send a clear message that strong FoI rights and duties matter. #FoIReformNow

Text reads: Support the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
Photo shows CFoIS Director Carole Ewart and Katy Clark MSP at the Scottish Parliament

Text reads: The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee concluded in its Stage 1 report on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill that “legislation is now needed to update the freedom of information regime in Scotland.”
MSPs should show their support for this conclusion by voting for the Bill at Stage 1 and send a clear message that strong FoI rights and duties matter.