The right to know: Comparing access-to-information laws across Asia

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 14 June 2026 |  JP Special Report

Across Asia, RTI and FOI laws vary: some enable investigative journalism and accountability, while others are ineffective due to bureaucratic resistance, broad exemptions and weak enforcement as governments increase control of digital information.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — For journalists, access-to-information laws are often described as democracy's hidden infrastructure. While freedom of expression protects the right to publish, access-to-information laws provide the means to obtain the facts needed for public-interest reporting.

Across Asia, governments have adopted various forms of right-to-information (RTI) and freedom-of-information (FOI) legislation over the past two decades. Some have become powerful tools for investigative reporting and public accountability. Others exist largely on paper, hampered by bureaucratic resistance, weak enforcement, or broad exemptions that limit public access.

As governments increasingly control information flows through digital platforms, official communications channels, and data systems, the effectiveness of access-to-information laws has become more important than ever for journalists seeking to scrutinize public institutions.

The question is no longer whether a country has an access-to-information law. Increasingly, the measure of success is whether journalists can use it effectively.

How access-to-information laws support journalism

Access-to-information laws allow citizens and journalists to request official records from government departments, public agencies, and state-funded institutions. These requests can uncover spending records, contracts, policy decisions, correspondence, regulatory actions, procurement documents, and statistical data.

Investigative journalists around the world routinely use such laws to expose corruption, monitor public spending, verify official claims, and examine government decision-making.

Strong access-to-information systems typically include clear response deadlines, limited exemptions, independent appeals mechanisms, and penalties for officials who fail to comply. Weak systems often suffer from delays, excessive secrecy, vague exemptions, and poor enforcement.

For news organizations operating in environments where access to officials is limited or where governments are reluctant to answer questions, information laws can provide an alternative route to obtaining public records.

India's RTI law remains influential

India's Right to Information Act of 2005 is widely regarded as one of the most influential transparency laws in Asia.

The legislation transformed access to government records by granting citizens broad rights to request information from public authorities. Journalists, activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens have used the law to investigate issues ranging from infrastructure projects and welfare programs to public procurement and administrative decisions.

Many significant public-interest stories in India have originated from information requests filed under the RTI framework. The law has also helped establish a culture of public accountability in which government agencies are expected to justify their decisions through documentary evidence.

However, transparency advocates have expressed concerns in recent years about delays, backlogs, and the functioning of information commissions that hear appeals.

Despite these challenges, India's RTI framework remains one of the region's most extensively used transparency mechanisms.

Sri Lanka's model earns international praise

Sri Lanka's Right to Information Act, enacted in 2016, is frequently cited by transparency organizations as one of the strongest access-to-information frameworks in South Asia.

The law established an independent information commission and created a relatively robust appeals process for applicants whose requests are denied.

Journalists have used the legislation to obtain records relating to public spending, administrative decisions, and government operations. The law has also contributed to broader public awareness regarding citizens' rights to access official information.

Observers note that implementation challenges remain, particularly during periods of political instability. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka's framework is often presented as a model for countries seeking to strengthen transparency mechanisms.

Indonesia's transparency system gains ground

Indonesia's Public Information Disclosure Act has become an important instrument for journalists and civil society organizations.

The legislation provides mechanisms for requesting public information and includes dispute-resolution procedures through information commissions. Media organizations have used the framework to obtain records related to government procurement, environmental issues, and public administration.

Indonesia's experience demonstrates the importance of independent oversight bodies capable of enforcing disclosure requirements when government agencies resist transparency.

Pakistan's challenge is implementation

Pakistan has made significant progress in developing legal frameworks for access to information.

The federal Right of Access to Information Act, along with provincial laws in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provides journalists and citizens with formal mechanisms for requesting government records.

Transparency advocates have praised some aspects of these laws, particularly provisions requiring proactive disclosure of information by public bodies.

However, implementation remains inconsistent. Journalists frequently report delays, incomplete responses, and difficulties obtaining records from certain government institutions.

The gap between legal rights and practical access continues to be one of the country's principal transparency challenges. While the laws themselves compare favorably with many regional counterparts, their effectiveness ultimately depends on compliance by public authorities.

Bangladesh and Nepal continue to face hurdles

Bangladesh's Right to Information Act, adopted in 2009, established a legal basis for public access to government records. The country also created an Information Commission tasked with overseeing implementation.

While journalists and civil society groups have used the law successfully in some cases, observers note that awareness, administrative capacity, and institutional resistance continue to affect outcomes.

Nepal has similarly established legal protections for access to information, supported by constitutional guarantees and statutory mechanisms. Yet practical implementation remains uneven, particularly outside major urban centers where administrative resources may be limited.

Both countries illustrate a common challenge across Asia: passing transparency legislation is often easier than building the institutional culture necessary to enforce it consistently.

The Philippines remains an exception

Unlike many of its regional neighbors, the Philippines does not have a comprehensive national freedom-of-information law enacted by parliament.

Instead, access to government information relies largely on executive measures, agency-specific disclosure practices, constitutional provisions, and judicial remedies.

Journalists and transparency advocates have long argued that a comprehensive national law would strengthen accountability and provide clearer procedures for obtaining public records.

Why enforcement matters more than legislation

One of the clearest lessons from Asia's experience is that strong laws alone do not guarantee transparency.

Countries with impressive legislative frameworks can still struggle if officials routinely delay responses, classify excessive amounts of information, or face few consequences for noncompliance.

Conversely, jurisdictions with modest legal frameworks can achieve meaningful transparency if institutions embrace disclosure and appeals bodies actively enforce public access rights.

For journalists, the practical test is simple: Can a reporter obtain records within a reasonable timeframe, challenge unjustified refusals, and rely on independent oversight when disputes arise?

The future of access to information

As governments increasingly manage information through digital systems, transparency laws are entering a new phase. Questions surrounding algorithmic decision-making, government databases, digital surveillance, and automated public services are creating new demands for disclosure.

Journalists investigating public policy today often need access not only to documents but also to datasets, procurement records, technical reports, and digital communications.

The countries that adapt their transparency frameworks to these new realities are likely to provide the most effective support for accountability journalism in the years ahead.

Across Asia, progress has been uneven. Yet the broader trend is clear: access-to-information laws have become indispensable tools for modern journalism. Where they are properly enforced, they strengthen reporting, improve government accountability, and reinforce the public's right to know.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes