Over Half a Million People Sign Petition Against German Government's Freedom of Information Restrictions

• Public opposition to the German coalition government's plans to de facto abolish freedom of information is growing, with a petition surpassing 500,000 signatures in just over a week.
• Over 120 civil society organizations and various media outlets have voiced strong opposition to the proposed restrictions on transparency.
• SPD parliamentary members have publicly distanced themselves from the coalition’s decision, stating they will not support a reduction in current transparency standards.

Core Concerns of the Proposals

• Requiring applicants to demonstrate a "legitimate interest" in requested documents, reversing the current burden of proof where the state must justify withholding information.
• Limiting the right to request information exclusively to German and EU citizens, creating what critics call a two-class system of information access.
• Characterizing the move as a de facto abolition of the Freedom of Information Act (IFG).

Response from Authorities and International Groups

• The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, criticized the plans as inherently undemocratic and a reversal of the core principle of unconditional access to official records.
• Human Rights Watch has urged the government to halt the plans, citing risks to fundamental human rights essential for public participation and rule of law.
• Germany currently ranks 127th globally in transparency; critics warn that these changes would result in a further decline, potentially falling behind authoritarian regimes.