They Know is primarily known as "WhatDoTheyKnow," a website by mySociety that helps people in the United Kingdom make Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. It allows users to request information from public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The key features of WhatDoTheyKnow include:
- It makes it easy to formulate FOI requests and sends them to the correct public authority departments.
- All requests and the authorities’ responses are published online in a permanent archive, making information accessible to everyone.
- The site acts as a public database of FOI requests, reducing the need for multiple people to make the same requests.
- It covers over 45,000 public bodies, mostly funded by the public, including government departments, local councils, hospitals, and other public organizations.
- WhatDoTheyKnow provides tools to follow topics and receive updates on related requests and responses.
- The platform promotes transparency and accountability by making government and public body information more widely available.
- It is built on open-source software called Alaveteli, which is used by various countries for similar FOI sites.
The service has been used widely by journalists, campaigners, and the general public to uncover facts and data that might otherwise remain hidden. It has helped expose important issues ranging from government activities to public health concerns by making Freedom of Information requests accessible and transparent. The site also provides support and guidance for those making FOI requests. In short, "WhatDoTheyKnow" is a tool that leverages the Freedom of Information Act to enable public access to information held by UK public bodies, helping reveal what "they" (public authorities) know.
