,9)UHHGRPRI,QIRUPDWLRQ 93ULYDWH%URDGFDVWLQJ 1. 1. Public bodies hold information not for themselves but as custodians of the public good and everyone has a right to access this information, subject only to clearly defined rules established by law. 2. The right to information shall be guaranteed by law in accordance with the following principles: everyone has the right to access information held by public bodies; everyone has the right to access information held by private bodies which is necessary for the exercise or protection of any right; any refusal to disclose information shall be subject to appeal to an independent body and/or the courts; public bodies shall be required, even in the absence of a request, actively to publish important information of significant public interest; no one shall be subject to any sanction for releasing in good faith information on wrongdoing, or that which would disclose a serious threat to health, safety or the environment save where the imposition of sanctions serves a legitimate interest and is necessary in a democratic society; and secrecy laws shall be amended as necessary to comply with freedom of information principles. 3. Everyone has the right to access and update or otherwise correct their personal information, whether it is held by public or by private bodies. 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\" States shall encourage a diverse, independent private broadcasting sector. A State monopoly over broadcasting is not compatible with the right to freedom of expression. 2. The broadcast regulatory system shall encourage private and community broadcasting in accordance with the following principles: there shall be equitable allocation of frequencies between private broadcasting uses, both commercial and community; an independent regulatory body shall be responsible for issuing broadcasting licences and for ensuring observance of licence conditions; licensing processes shall be fair and transparent, and shall seek to promote diversity in broadcasting; and community broadcasting shall be promoted given its potential to broaden access by poor and rural communities to the airwaves. 9,3XEOLF%URDGFDVWLQJ State and government controlled broadcasters should be transformed into public service broadcasters, accountable to the public through the legislature rather than the government, in accordance with the following principles: public broadcasters should be governed by a board which is protected against interference, particularly of a political or