Editor's Note

The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Want to Know What's In Your Tap Water? Sorry...

A fine example of secrecy madness from USA Today:

When water providers find pharmaceuticals in drinking water, they rarely tell the public. When researchers make the same discoveries, they usually don't identify the cities involved.

There are plenty of reasons offered for the secrecy: concerns about national security, fears of panic, a feeling that the public will not understand — even confidentiality agreements.

Much, much more here. Warning: if you like access to information, this will have you muttering at your computer screen...

CD

1 comment:

Isabelle Roughol said...

Wow, the madness. So, to put it in simple words, according to the Philadelphia Water Department spokeswoman, 'we don't tell people because we don't want them asking questions because we don't yet have answers to their questions.' Is she serious?