Does The Government Have a File On Me

In the aftermath of the Maryland “spying on peace groups” scandal, many ACLU members are likely wondering, “What kind of files does the government have on me?”  Our new “File Your Own FOIA” website provides the tools they need to answer this question. The user-friendly site, www.whatisfoia.org , walks individuals through the FOIA request process step-by-step – making it as easy as possible to uncover whatever data the government has on their protest or First Amendment activities.  As filing FOIAs can be a confusing process for non-lawyers, the site provides helpful information on what data to include in a FOIA request, where to send the request, how to apply for expedited processing, and how to request fee waivers, as well as sample FOIA request letters, checklists, and a Frequently Asked Questions section.

What is FOIA?