Automating Transparency: A New Era for FOIA Requests

Saturday, July 13, 2024: 1:00 pm (Marillac Auditorium): The process of accessing public records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is often seen as cumbersome and slow, hindering the pursuit of transparency and accountability. In this talk...

Saturday, July 13, 2024: 1:00 pm (Marillac Auditorium): The process of accessing public records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is often seen as cumbersome and slow, hindering the pursuit of transparency and accountability. In this talk, Florin Badita, hacker and activist, founder of "Corruption Kills," and organizer of the biggest protest in Romanian history, will introduce a transformative tool that automates 80 percent of the FOIA process. This session will detail the development and functionality of the tool, illustrate its impact through case studies, and discuss its potential to revolutionize public data accessibility. Participants will gain insights into harnessing technology for effective advocacy and government oversight - and how we can transform the FOIA process into an API.

Florin Badita