OAIC Emphasises Role of Information Access in Combatting Misinformation

Ahead of International Access to Information Day on 28 September, Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd highlighted the importance of trusted government information amid rising misinformation and AI-generated content. Celebrated globally, the annual event promotes the public's right to access government-held information, a right established in Australia under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

The global theme for the year is "Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age," with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) adopting the local theme "Transparency + Access = Information Integrity." Commissioner Tydd stated that public trust relies on proactive disclosure, arguing that accessible government data reduces reliance on unreliable sources and provides accuracy for AI outputs. Freedom of Information Commissioner Alice Linacre noted that proactive disclosure, proper recordkeeping, and timely access are essential fundamentals for maintaining trust, regardless of technological changes.

According to the OAIC, community backing for access rights is significant, pointing to findings from the Cross-jurisdictional Information Access Study where 96% of Australians surveyed viewed the right to access government information as important or very important.

To facilitate public access, the OAIC and the Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC) have endorsed a standardized "Access to Information" icon to be implemented across Commonwealth, state, and territory websites.

The OAIC commenced its observance on 21 September with an event at the Museum of Australian Democracy attended by over 400 professionals, civil society representatives, and Australian Public Service leaders. Further activities across the week of 28 September to 4 October include the upcoming October launch of an upgraded FOI statistical returns portal and Commissioner Linacre's participation in an International Conference of Information Commissioners panel discussion.

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