By Alan M Dransfield

The Freedom of Information Act was created to empower the public—to hold government accountable.

But what happens when the system starts targeting the very people who use it?

Recent revelations from the United States show that the FBI has internally labelled certain FOIA requesters as “vexsome.”

Not based on what they asked—but how often they asked.

Even more concerning?

When challenged, the FBI reportedly claimed no records exist explaining this category—despite evidence that it has been used.

Sound familiar?

Because here in the UK, we have our own version:

 Section 14(1) FOIA – “vexatious requests”

 Widely expanded after Dransfield v Information Commissioner

Since that ruling, there are growing concerns that:

• Requesters are judged on who they are, not what they ask
• Persistent FOI users are treated as a problem to manage
• Public authorities rely on broad labels to shut down scrutiny

Let’s be clear:

 FOI law does NOT allow authorities to create informal blacklists

 Requests must be judged on their merits—not the requester

 Persistence is not abuse—it’s accountability

Yet the pattern is emerging on both sides of the Atlantic:

• Label the requester
• Deny the system exists
• Restrict access

That is not transparency.

That is control.

Public bodies will say FOI is “burdensome.”

But they never ask for the resources to fix it—they just find ways to avoid it.

The truth is simple:

 Persistent questioning is not the problem. It is the point.

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If you care about transparency, accountability, and your right to know what government is doing in your name—this matters.

Please share.

#FOI #FreedomOfInformation #Transparency #Accountability #Dransfield #ICO

Alan M Dransfield

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