Madrid 23 September 2024 – Access Info is proud to announce the three finalists for the first-ever Access Info Impact Award.

The Access Info Impact Award aims to honour individuals and organisations that have effectively used their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, or anti-corruption efforts.

After opening nominations last month, the award received 21 high-calibre entries from civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and citizens across Europe. A distinguished Evaluation Committee has carefully reviewed all the nominations and shortlisted the following three outstanding candidates:

  • Lighthouse Reports – Uncovering discrimination in algorithmic decision-making

The investigative series Suspicion Machines led by Lighthouse Reports utilised freedom of information requests to expose how machine learning algorithms used to detect welfare fraud were discriminating based on ethnicity and gender. This investigative series sheds light on the alarming scale of welfare surveillance and automated decision-making systems across six European countries. The series was produced in collaboration with partners including WIRED, Vers Beton, Le Monde, El Confidencial, Svenske Dagbladet, Follow The Money, Argos, and OpenRotterdam, highlighting the urgent need for transparency in algorithmic governance.

  • Altreconomia –   Investigating Repatriation Detention Centres in Italy

Through the Italian Freedom of Information Law, Altreconomia accessed documents revealing disturbing practices within Italy’s Repatriation Detention Centres. Their investigation uncovered the abuse of psychotropic drugs to keep detainees calm, inadequate services and fraudulent contracts for the management of the centres. These revelations contributed to initiating a formal investigation by Milan’s public prosecutor, leading to the seizure of the company responsible for managing the detention centre.

  • Eleanor Shaikh – Supporting victims of the UK Post Office Horizon scandal

Eleanor Shaikh, a dedicated citizen advocate, utilised the UK Freedom of Information Law to help vindicate Sub-Postmasters caught in the UK Post Office Horizon scandal, where more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system. Shaikh has gained access to important documents used to support victims, including the 2016 Swift Review and Post Office guidance which used deeply offensive racial identification codes for sub-postmasters under investigation. The released documents were picked up by various media outlets and laid the foundation for Eleanor’s report “Origins of a Disaster”.

 Next steps

The three finalists will now be assessed by the Evaluation Committee, which is made of members of Access Info’s Board of Directors and International Advisory Board, comprising geographical and gender balance

  • Ana Revuelta
  • Carlos Cordero
  • Carole Ewart
  • Joan Barata Mir
  • Sergejus Muravjovas

“At this time in the history of civil and human rights in Europe, it is important to publicly recognise the people and organisations that use the right of access to information as a tool to defend human rights, democracy, the planet and as an anti-corruption tool,” said Carlos Cordero. “Congratulations and thanks to all those who have submitted nominations for the Access Info Impact Award”.

“The Committee was impressed at the range and quality of the nominations from across Europe,” said Carole Ewart. “We acknowledge the perils people still face when using their right to request information and the positive impact that information disclosure brings to the public interest”.

The Evaluation Committee will assess the finalists based on the following criteria:

  • Tangible Impact: Achievements that have positively affected disadvantaged or marginalised groups.
  • Inspiration: Encouraging others to exercise their right to access information.
  • Adaptability: Overcoming obstacles to secure access to crucial information.
  • Collaboration: Partnering with individuals, organisations, or communities to amplify the impact of their work.
  • Sustainability: Ensuring long-lasting outcomes and continued benefit from the information obtained.

The winner will be announced on Friday 27th September, ahead of International Right to Know Day.

The winning candidate will be invited to speak at the Open Government Partnership Summit 2025 in Spain.