20261002 Verfassungsgrundsatz wird in Frage gestellt

02.10.2026 Verfassungsgrundsatz wird in Frage gestellt

The De Facto Abolition of Transparency

As early as 1998, Brandenburg had granted citizens the right to inspect records and access information from the state and local governments. This right even has constitutional status there: Article 21 guarantees the “right to political participation.” To this end, the State Act on Access to Records and Information (AIG) was enacted. But now the state’s Ministry of the Interior is working on a restriction on freedom of information. The protection of infrastructure is being cited as the justification.

To believe this, however, one would have to imagine that “terrorists” would first request access to files from the relevant authorities before carrying out a potential attack. It is strange that most (rejected) requests are submitted to the police. In the future, these requests are not to be answered at all. Even in the past, the responses were often redacted.

RBB quotes a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior: “In light of this, it would make more sense if, under the Freedom of Information Act, no questions about the police were allowed to be asked at all.” As a result, in the future, no one will find out how many children are injured on their way to school or how many dogs have bitten people in the state — and this will not improve internal security.

Conclusion: We are facing yet another erosion of democratic rights! Freedom of information is enshrined in the Constitution, yet it is still under attack. Where else could the enemies of the Constitution be found?