Transparency & Democracy
Ensuring access to information necessary for self-government
The First Amendment embraces the public’s right to access the information needed to hold the powerful accountable and participate fully in the process of self-government.
Our aim in defending and promoting transparency is not simply to compel the disclosure of information that the public is entitled to know, but to broaden public access to information through changes in government policy and the law.
Featured
Op-ed
What Is America’s Spy Court Hiding From the Public?
Unnecessary secrecy about government surveillance is bad for the intelligence agencies, the spy court, and our democracy
By Jameel Jaffer , Theodore Olson & David ColeLATEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
-
Deep Dive
Judicial Secrecy: How to fix the over-sealing of federal court records
The time has come for the courts to adopt a uniform procedure for sealing that protects the public’s right of access to court records
By Heather Abraham , Jonathan Manes & Alex Abdo -
Quick Take : Press Freedom
Groups Press Attorney General to Drop Espionage Act Charges against Julian Assange
Warn that criminal case poses grave threat to press freedom
By Lorraine Kenny -
Deep Dive
Are Human Rights Violations Becoming More Difficult to Hide?
In the post-/911 digital era, experts reflect on what they learned from the government's response to the World Trade Center attacks, and how the world of human rights activism has changed
By A. Adam Glenn
LITIGATION & ADVOCACY
-
Lawsuit
Campaign for Accountability v. DOJ
A FOIA lawsuit seeking proactive disclosure of the Office of Legal Counsel’s secret legal opinions
-
-
Amicus Brief
United States v. Abu Zubaydah
A Supreme Court case in which the government has invoked the state secrets privilege over testimony about the torture of Abu Zubaydah
RESEARCH
-
Institute Update : Lies and the Law
Call for Papers: Lies, Free Speech, and the Law
The Knight Institute invites submissions for its spring symposium, “Lies, Free Speech, and the Law” to be held at Columbia Law School, on April 7-8, 2022. The symposium will explore how the law regulates, or should regulate, false and misleading...
By Genevieve Lakier & Katy Glenn Bass -
Essays and Scholarship
What We Owe Whistleblowers
Jameel Jaffer argues that their disclosures since 9/11 have been vital, and that we should protect them better than we do
By Jameel Jaffer -
Essays and Scholarship
Transparency’s AI Problem
Artificial intelligence’s opaque processes and outcomes make it an incomplete tool for governing
By Hannah Bloch-Wehba
Events
Lies and Elections
How exceptional should we consider the electoral context when it comes to the regulation of lies?
Online
Book Talk: How Rights Went Wrong
A conversation with Jamal Greene about why our obsession with rights is tearing America apart