Graeme,
We have dealt with a significant number of 'internal' FoISA requests -
generally using pseudonyms but it is obvious that they know about the
inner workings of the University and know exactly where the information
is located. Although FoISA requires the requester to supply his/her real
name there is no way we can verify it. As far as I am concerned the
requester supplies his/her identity information purely for the purpose
of asking for the information and to enable a reply to be sent. There is
no need for anyone else, such as the managers, to know the identity of
the requester. FoISA requires us to respond to an information request
irrespective of the identity of the requester or the reason for the
request. Therefore, we treat the identity as confidential.
David.
David Fildes
Head of Data Protection & Freedom of Information Office, University of
Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
tel: 0141 330 5146
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Graeme Hawley
Sent: 30 May 2006 10:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] Anonymity when making FOI requests of your
own organisation
Hi,
What is the score when an employee makes an FOI request of their own
organisation? I am the FOI officer at our organisation, and have
received a request for info from a member of staff. They have supplied
their name and email address. I am pretty sure that in gathering the
information for this, senior management will ask who this has come from.
There isn't usually a problem when it is external, and I can say
something like "a jounalist from the Telegraph", but it will be clear
from the nature of the question that this has come from inside. Despite
being the FOI officer, a request made for information isn't made
personally to me, but rather to the organisation. I am just the guy
that handles them. However, in order to satisfy the request, there is
no need for anyone else to know the identity of the applicant. On the
other hand, the organisation itself has received this request, so who am
I to say who else in the organisation should or shouldn't know? I feel
that if the management knew the identity of the applicant it may cause
awkwardness for them (damage and distress).
Does anyone have any suggestions. In order to withhold the member of
staff's name I think I need some sort of refernece from the DPA. FOISA
doesn't say anything about this.
Cheers
Graeme
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