'Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World' by Privacy Internationals David Banisar gives a detailed, global overview of legislation towards access of government records and identifies some of the problems with current laws and the factors for adoption in countries that do not yet have such laws.

Over fifty countries have adopted comprehensive laws to facilitate access to government information. In just the past year, six countries have adopted laws and over thirty more are in the process. The laws are broadly similar, allowing for a general right by citizens, residents and often anyone else to demand information from government bodies.

However, the battle is far from over. Many of the laws are not adequate. In some countries, the laws lie dormant due to a failure to implement them properly or a lack of demand. In others, the exemptions are abused by governments to prevent embarrassment. New laws promoting secrecy in the global war on terror have undercut access. International organisations take over national government roles and have not subjected themselves to the same rules. These problems need to be addressed by all of the participants. Access ebbs and flows at any given time in any country but the transformation has begun and it is no longer possible to tell citizens that they have no right to know.

Freedom of Information and Access to Government Records Around the World (28.09.2003)
http://www.freedominfo.org/survey.htm