This week, Margaret Kwoka, a law professor at Ohio State University, addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasizing that modern technologies have the potential to significantly enhance government transparency and alleviate the overwhelming number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests burdening agencies.
Advocating for Technological Upgrades
Kwoka, who specializes in information law and government transparency, articulated that updates in technology could lead to better management of public records requests. She stated, ‘Most technological developments require significant up-front investment but promise to pay dividends in efficiency moving forward.’”
Challenges in Compliance
Kwoka shed light on the pressing issues within the current FOIA system, citing the increasing volume of requests and outdated technological infrastructure as major barriers. She remarked, ‘The numbers of FOIA requests are ever-increasing, and agency FOIA offices simply can’t keep up.’”
Proactive Sharing as a Solution
In her testimony, she proposed that agencies should proactively share frequently requested information with the public. She affirmed, ‘If we’re smart about what we require agencies to disclose affirmatively… it would cut down in some areas vastly the number of requests that are made.’”
The Importance of AI
Kwoka recommended the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline the FOIA process, referencing successful implementations at institutions like the National Archives. She noted, ‘I think we would be absolutely crazy not to start testing these tools.’”
Establishing a Centralized System
Additionally, she suggested establishing a centralized FOIA portal to facilitate requests across agencies. Kwoka stated, ‘Ideally, the technology would be developed in-house, hiring folks to build and maintain a platform on which all agencies could accept and respond to FOIA requests.’”
Conclusion: A Call for Action
Amidst declining public trust in government institutions, Kwoka insisted that the FOIA is critical for ensuring accountability and transparency. She emphasized, ‘The promise of FOIA is to ensure that the public has access to government records, so that the public can hold government accountable.’”
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- FOIA
- Government Transparency
- Ohio State University