Justicia avala proyecto que limita el acceso a la información pública

Justicia avala proyecto que limita el acceso a la información pública

The article highlights a significant conflict regarding Puerto Rico’s Senate Project 63, which aims to regulate access to public information. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) supports the measure, arguing that it ensures compliance with existing public policy and promotes proper administrative management. The OIG recommends clarifying the definition of public information to align with Supreme Court jurisprudence, allowing the state to deny requests under specific legal privileges or when third-party rights are at stake. Crucially, the OIG insists that any denial must include written legal justifications to maintain judicial scrutiny. In sharp contrast, civil and journalistic organizations strongly oppose the bill, viewing it as a regression in transparency rights. They argue that the legislation extends response deadlines and imposes new bureaucratic conditions, effectively turning the right to know into an ineffective procedure. These groups warn that the proposed restrictions weaken citizen oversight and hinder investigative journalism by creating technical barriers and limiting legal recourse. This dispute is highly relevant to open data because it directly challenges the principles of maximum disclosure and ease of access. While the OIG seeks to formalize exceptions and procedural rigor, critics fear these changes will obscure data and reduce accountability. The outcome determines whether open data remains a fundamental tool for democratic participation or becomes a restricted, heavily regulated process that prioritizes administrative convenience over public transparency.

Source: metro.pr
Published on 2025-11-13