German Journalists Warn: CDU and SPD Plan to Restrict Freedom of Information Act
Daniel Drepper, head of the Netzwerk Recherche investigative network, warns that Germany's CDU and SPD parties are planning to restrict the Freedom of Information Act (IFG). The law, in place for 20 years, has enabled citizens to access government documents, notably exposing the Maskendeals scandal involving former health minister Jens Spahn. Drepper recounts his own experience using the IFG as a young journalist to investigate the Federal Ministry of the Interior's funding of sports associations. He warns that the proposed changes would undermine transparency and accountability.
Key facts
- CDU and SPD plan to restrict the Freedom of Information Act (IFG).
- The IFG has been in place for 20 years.
- The law helped expose the Maskendeals scandal involving Jens Spahn.
- Daniel Drepper is the head of Netzwerk Recherche.
- Drepper used the IFG as a journalist to investigate the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
- The ministry distributes millions of euros annually to German sports associations.
- Drepper accessed thousands of pages of original documents through the IFG.
- The proposed changes would limit citizen access to government records.
Entities
Institutions
- CDU
- SPD
- Netzwerk Recherche
- Funke Mediengruppe
- Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Bundesinnenministerium
Locations
- Germany