WhatDoTheyKnow

WhatDoTheyKnow.com is a website which allows anyone to make a Freedom of Information request in public.^[1][2]

• Around 10% of requests to Central Government are made through WhatDoTheyKnow.com.^[3]

• over 5,000 public bodies have been added to the site, mainly by volunteers

• the site has been described as "an idiot's guide to making an freedom of information request." http://www.guardian.co.uk/government-computing-network/2011/jul/21/skunkworks-whitehall-dick-vinegar?INTCMP=SRCH

• The Information Commissioner has stated "we believe the most up-to-date informal list of all public

authorities is held on the website ‘WhatDoTheyKnow.com’."http://www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/how_we_comply/disclosure_log/~/media/documents/disclosure_log/IRQ0365760.ashx

Recognition

• Daily Telegraph best green websites - ranked number 2 ^[4][5]
• New Media Awards - Democracy in Action Finalists 2008 ^[6][7]
• New Media Awards - Innovation Winner 2008 ^[8]

ICO advice

The ICO advises information professionals to: "Check out websites and blogs that cover freedom of information issues, such as www.whatdotheyknow.com, ..." ^[9]

See also

• Important things that have been discovered through WhatDoTheyKnow.com
• MPs using WhatDoTheyKnow
• Common WhatDoTheyKnow support responses
• WhatDoTheyKnow - email address needed
• WhatDoTheyKnow.com Tags

External Resources

• Wikipedia: WhatDoTheyKnow