A coalition of 110 civil society organizations and media companies has issued an open letter calling for the halt of planned restrictions to the Freedom of Information Act (IFG), which were decided upon by the governing coalition. The signatories argue that these plans would prevent journalists and civil society groups from accessing crucial information in the future, thereby eliminating a key tool for fighting corruption and abuse of power.
The letter, published on Tuesday, states that limiting the right to freedom of information for millions of citizens would impede evidence-based reporting, undermine public oversight, and limit civil society engagement. Furthermore, they contend that such measures would weaken public trust in political institutions, a concern they stress is more acute in times of growing public skepticism toward governing bodies.
The current proposals put forth by the coalition mandate that IFG requests could only be submitted by private individuals who can demonstrate a “legitimate interest.” Organizations and media companies would be excluded entirely. Additionally, the existing fee cap of 500 euros would be eliminated, meaning a single request could potentially cost several thousand euros.
The government justifies these changes under the rationale of “reducing bureaucracy” and protecting critical infrastructure. These plans stem from a 2025 coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD, which had previously stipulated that the IFG would be reformed “with added value” for both citizens and administration.
The open letter was initiated by platforms such as Abgeordnetenwatch, the German Society for Freedom of Information (DGIF), the German Journalists’ Association (DJV), FragDenStaat, LobbyControl, Mehr Demokratie e.V., and Netzwerk Recherche, alongside Transparency International and Wikimedia Deutschland. Other organizations that have since added their names include Amnesty International, Foodwatch, Greenpeace, Sea-Watch, and “taz”.
