During 2011-2021, Ukraine developed comprehensive legislation on access to official information, and implemented it according to the best international democratic standards. However, during the war, access to official information has been partly limited due to reasons of national security, despite the fact that this democratic instrument is an effective tool to counteract disinformation. It is important now for the government and policymakers to find a well-balanced approach between enhancing national security and ensuring free flow of access to official information, to make sure that accurate and trustworthy official information is not replaced with fake. This article is aimed at defining the role that access to official information can play in counteracting disinformation, and what steps all the stakeholders can take towards a better-informed society.
ACCESS TO OFFICIAL INFORMATION FOR COUNTERING DISINFORMATION: KEY FINDINGS AND STEPS FOR UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS
