vision

Vision

One day nearly all public communications will actually and automatically become public.

Steps towards this vision were first taken centuries ago with private communications forming part of public record in official courts and inquiries including, for example, laffaire Dreyfus in 1894. Informally, the news media fills the grey area between law and truth with exposes based on previously top-secret reports and letters. Communications continue to evolve. Email accelerates this process. Public bodies will eventually release all but the most sensitive communications instantly, instead of only the least sensitive information days, weeks or even months later. Release will most likely take place after a brief period, perhaps two weeks, maybe a month, or in quarterly or annual e-bulletins. This will not be the realisation of a utopian ideal. Instead, near total information freedom will result from increasing economic efficiencies.

Freedom of Information will be seen as an instant human right, not an elite privilege to be granted only after official contemplation. Countries like Norway and Sweden have already achieved this ideal.