Contrasting Information Demand and Information Supply
Digital Platforms as Intermediaries of Citizen-Government Interaction
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12839338 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Julia Andrea Trautendorfer (0000-0002-6900-2827, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, corresponding author), Lisa Hohensinn (0000-0002-0349-9965, Vienna University of Economics and Business), Dennis Hilgers (0000-0003-2660-7057, Johannes Kepler University of Linz) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 321-337 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Information Polity (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1875-8754 • E-ISSN: 1570-1255 |
| Publisher | IOS Press (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1177/15701255251393049 |
| OpenAlex | W4415975690 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 64 |
Digital technologies can improve citizen-government interaction such as citizens’ requests for public information and government's publication of requested information. Digital intermediaries such as Freedom of Information (FOI) platforms support citizens and government in exchanging this information. Such digital platforms are hosted by non-governmental organizations, which forward information requests to the responsible authority on behalf of the requester and publish the entire process online. This study aims to explore the usage of FOI platforms by both citizens as information requesters and government organizations as information providers. By adopting a single case research approach, this study investigates the German FOI platform ‘FragDenStaat’ which is operated by the non-governmental organization Open Knowledge Foundation Germany. The findings indicate that citizens have constantly and increasingly used the platform over the last 13 years, since the launch of the platform. About 38 percent of submitted requests are successfully answered, and the overall likeliness of successful requests has increased over time. In addition, federal organizations are the most frequently requested organizations. While the Federal Office of Information Security stands out for its high responsiveness rate, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice and Health of Schleswig-Holstein tend to refuse requests. We conclude by discussing the potential of FOI platforms as open data intermediaries for processing information requests and contributing to efficient citizen-state interaction and public service provision
Christian ministry · Government (linguistics · Information system · Information technology · Intermediary · Open government · Process (computing · Publication · Service (business · E-Government and Public Services · Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development · Smart Cities and Technologies
Behavioral Public Performance
Benefits, Adoption Barriers and Myths of Open Data and Open Government
Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology
A systematic review of open government data initiatives
Evaluating the role of intermediaries in the electronic value chain
Building open government
Using ICTs to create a culture of transparency
Latent transparency and trust in government
Factors influencing public officials' responses to requests for information disclosure
Exploring FOI publicity patterns
From ‘window dressing’ to ‘door openers’? Freedom of Information legislation, public demand, and state compliance in South East Europe
A field experiment on bureaucratic discretionary bias under FOI laws
Locating information systems in the freedom of information process
The survival of open government platforms
Who pays the piper? The political economy of freedom of information
Assessing the performance of freedom of information
Does the freedom of information law increase transparency at the local level? Evidence from a field experiment
Piercing the veil
An analysis of open government portals
What information do citizens want? Evidence from one million information requests in Mexico
A Snapshot of Foia Administration
Actor roles in co‐production—Introducing intermediaries
The Information-Gathering Matrix
Trust in public performance information
Public crowdsourcing
Can the power of platforms be harnessed for governance
When does open government shut? Predicting government responses to citizen information requests
The Political Origins of Transparency
The Political Logic of Government Disclosure
From de jure to de facto transparency
Years of Transparency Research
How do public bodies respond to freedom of information legislation? Administration, modernisation and democratisation
Linking Citizen Satisfaction with E-Government and Trust in Government
Can Sunlight Disperse Mistrust? A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Transparency on Citizens’ Trust in Government
FOI Laws Around the World
Googling the requester
More Open but Not More Trusted? The Effect of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on the United Kingdom Central Government
Are the answers all out there? Investigating citizen information requests in the haze of bureaucratic responsiveness
Intermediaries in the public sector and the role of information technology
Does transparency strengthen legitimacy
What's wrong with this picture? The case of access to information requests in two continental federal states – Germany and Switzerland
Assessing Freedom of Information in Latin America a Decade Later
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |