Also otherwise, the authority have to take the general principles of governance into account in its activity. Access to information may not be restricted any more than what is necessary to protect the interests in question and persons requesting information will have to treated on an equal basis. Principles for customer service Under the new Act, the authorities have to ensure that their customer service functions well. Persons requesting information have to be served quickly and efficiently. Where necessary, they also have to be assisted in locating the information they want.
All persons requesting information have to be treated on an equal basis.
The authority has to assist in specifying the document requested. This takes place by means of diaries and subject-matter indexes. The person requesting information still keeps his identity to himself, as well as the reasons for requesting the information. The use of the information may be relevant in deciding whether the disclosure of secret information will or will not have harmful effects. The procedure for considering a request for information and remedies Usually access to a document is decided by the authority in possession of the document.