And the answer: Bulgaria.
In Sofia, Bulgaria in 2002, a collection of activist organizations formed a coalition to promote the right to access information and transparency from governments. Every year on September 28th marks the “International Right to Know Day”.
Without the Internet, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Since 2002, activist organizations have protected the right to gather knowledge on the Internet by forming the International Right to Know Day—a day to acknowledge and celebrate freely accessible information in the modern day.
Following the 2002 meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, a key group of freedom of information organizations created the FOI (Freedom of Information) Advocates Network: a global coalition working together to promote the right of access to information for all people, and the benefits of open, transparent, and accountable governments. Network members chose to commemorate September 28 as a way to share ideas, strategies, and success stories about the development of freedom of information laws, as well as genuinely transparent governance in their own nations.
This year, the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), as it is also known, will foster discussions of e-Governance and Artificial Intelligence. As AI technologies continue to grow, spread, and adapt, the questions of ethics and access become necessary considerations for the future. Discussions at this year’s Global Conference on Universal Access to Information will additionally include the importance of implementing access to information into law policies, and stressing the need to continue to act together towards the establishment of resilient, inclusive knowledge societies.
Learn more about the International Right to Know Day here.
