The following information concerning international freedom of information laws was gleaned from articles and copies of laws amassed in Freedom of Information Center files.
Information is often incomplete and dates in conflict.
The Access Act of 1982 became effective in 1983. When still part of Sweden, Finland was covered by a constitutional right of access. As a separate country, Finland adopted the Publicity of Documents Act in 1951. The Freedom of Access to Administrative Documents Act, first adopted in 1978, has since been amended. The Freedom of the Press Law was rewritten in 1949.