Transparency in the Security Sector

The principles that should govern transparency in the security sector are essentially the same as those that operate in any other sector of government. Agencies in the sector should be subject to a justiciable right of access to information. National security claims can be invoked to defend decisions to withhold information, but the bar for withholding information should be high. The possibility that reasons for withholding information might be outweighed by broader public interest considerations should be anticipated. The decision to withhold information should be subject to independent review, and not left in the hands of government officials.