<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The present article outlines the most significant stages in the gradual development of international law towards a recognition of a right to information. It explores the instruments and judicial decisions in which this right has been acknowledged as well as the conditions under which it may be exercised including the categories of requesters entitled to it, the kinds of information that may be accessed and the purposes of such access. The article further examines the manifold and often conflicting aspects of the right to information and its relation to concepts such as democracy, security, freedom of expression, right to private life, corporate secrets, investigating journalism and whistleblowers. In particular, it analyses the importance of the access to information about the exercise of political power by public authorities and the crucial role it should play in enabling wellfunctioning democratic societies where responsible government, public scrutiny over the political processes and a right to an informed participation in public affairs is effectively guaranteed to all citizens. However, the risks that the public access to information poses to national security and to the well-recognized right to private life are also taken into account</p></abstract>

The present article outlines the most significant stages in the gradual development of international law towards a recognition of a right to information. It explores the instruments and judicial decisions in which this right has been acknowledged as well as the conditions under which it may be exercised including the categories of requesters entitled to it, the kinds of information that may be accessed and the purposes of such access. The article further examines the manifold and often conflicting aspects of the right to information and its relation to concepts such as democracy, security, freedom of expression, right to private life, corporate secrets, investigating journalism and whistleblowers. In particular, it analyses the importance of the access to information about the exercise of political power by public authorities and the crucial role it should play in enabling wellfunctioning democratic societies where responsible government, public scrutiny over the political processes and a right to an informed participation in public affairs is effectively guaranteed to all citizens. However, the risks that the public access to information poses to national security and to the well-recognized right to private life are also taken into account

The Conflicting Implications of the Right to Information as Recognised by Public International Law

International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The present article outlines the most significant stages in the gradual development of international law towards a recognition of a right to information. It...

The Conflicting Implications of the Right to Information as Recognised by Public International Law

Published Online: Jul 26, 2018

Page range: 212 - 220

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/kbo-2018-0092

Keywords
right to information, participation in public affairs, security, private life, risks

© 2018 Bilyana Borisova Manova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Conflicting Implications of the Right to Information as Recognised by Public International Law

Published Online: Jul 26, 2018

Page range: 212 - 220

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/kbo-2018-0092

Keywordsright to information, participation in public affairs, security, private life, risks

© 2018 Bilyana Borisova Manova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
right to information, participation in public affairs, security, private life, risks