OFFICIAL SECRECY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE ROLE OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WITH REGARD TO REDUCING SECRECY

Year 2008, Volume: XII Issue: 3-4, 13 - 32, 01.12.2008

Cemil Kaya

Abstract

Most official secrets are kept from the public for reasons that have nothing to do with national security. Also, “… history teaches that secrecy cannot always be equated with improved security and instead may harm the nation”. This article deals with official secrecy in the UK in terms of official secrets acts. For this purpose first, the article will focus on the history of the UK‟s official secrecy legislation, the attempts that have been made to change it and the most important official secrecy cases that have arisen. Second, it will analyze the current Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the light of the issue of official secrecy.

Keywords

Democracy, National Security, System of Official Secrecy, FOIA

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