Berlin's controversial bill threatens transparency and press freedom under security pretext
Berlin's government is planning to tighten restrictions on public access to information. A draft bill would significantly weaken the city's Freedom of Information Act (IFG), making it harder for journalists and citizens to scrutinise official decisions. Critics argue the move threatens transparency under the guise of protecting critical infrastructure.
The proposed changes come from the red-black coalition, which claims the reforms are necessary to shield energy systems and other vital services. Authorities cite recent incidents targeting infrastructure as justification, though no specific attacks on Berlin's power grid have been confirmed since January 2023. No groups or individuals responsible have been publicly identified.
The draft, titled Act to Amend the Berlin Data Protection Law and Other Regulations, ties exemptions to the Civil Protection Act. This law's broad definition of critical infrastructure could allow officials to block almost any IFG request. The tax authority, for instance, would be permanently exempt from oversight, removing public scrutiny of fiscal agencies entirely.
Opposition has been swift. Vasili Franco, the Green Party's interior policy spokesperson, called the rollback of transparency rules misguided. He stressed that public oversight is crucial to preventing corruption and mismanagement. Arne Semsrott of FragDenStaat dismissed the official reasoning as a pretext, arguing that transparency is being dismantled under the pretence of disaster preparedness.
The German Journalists' Union (DJU) Berlin-Brandenburg branch has also condemned the plan, labelling it a 'secrecy law'. They warn that the restrictions would severely limit press freedom, with recent media investigations into subsidy scandals no longer possible under the new rules.
If passed, the bill would reshape how information is accessed in Berlin. Journalists and activists would face far greater hurdles in obtaining public records, while agencies like the tax authority would operate without routine oversight. The Senate maintains the changes are essential for security, but critics insist they will erode accountability.
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