Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Right to Information Regimes

Abstract

The Right to Information (RTI) is a fundamental pillar of democratic governance, providing citizens with access to public information and helps them hold public authorities accountable. Conventional models of RTI typically have a variety of problems, however: evidence is stripped or embellished, documents are tampered with, there is bureaucratic opacity, and they don't really hold up in court. The Blockchain technology has unique characteristics, such as immutability, decentralization, and cryptographic security, which make it a revolutionary solution. Blockchain can offer end-to-end transparency with legal evidence for requests, answers, as well as all supporting documents, to ensure all stakeholders are transparent and to produce strong legal records. This chapter examines the possibilities of applying blockchain to RTI systems, arguing that the distributed ledger can help to reduce corruption risks, boost public trust and improve the admissibility of judgments.