Us Congress Senate Bill SB488

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

FOIA Fix Act of 2023 First Opportunity for Information to Americans Act of 2023

Impact

The proposed legislation would dramatically alter the landscape of public information access in the United States. While intended to bolster national security by limiting information access to foreign entities, it raises concerns among civil liberties advocates who worry that it may unduly restrict citizens' access to government-held information. By imposing fines for attempts to illegally access records, this bill could deter legitimate requests for transparency, impacting journalists and researchers who rely on access to government data for their work.

Summary

SB488, also known as the 'FOIA Fix Act of 2023', proposes modifications to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with the aim of enhancing transparency while also imposing stricter controls on the request process for federal information. The bill seeks to limit access to records and information, particularly to individuals and entities from nations deemed a security risk by the United States. It specifically targets foreign adversaries, including nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, restricting their ability to obtain sensitive information that could potentially compromise national security.

Contention

There is significant contention surrounding SB488, primarily based on the balance it seeks to strike between national security and public access to information. Proponents argue that in an age of growing international threats, tightening restrictions on information requests is essential to protect sensitive data from enemy states. Meanwhile, critics caution that this approach risks engendering a culture of secrecy within government agencies. The potential for arbitrary denials of information requests could impede democracy and accountability, fueling distrust among the general population regarding government operations.