Access to Information Policy in Northeastern Capitals: Analysis of LAI compliance by the Municipal Executive Branch

Abstract

The general objective of this research was to verify whether the executive power of the northeastern capitals comply with the Law on Access to Information (LAI) in their virtual sites. The method used was quantitative and qualitative with exploratory-descriptive design, through documentary research and bibliographic research, having as an instrument an observation form with the requirements determined by law. The data collection took place in the virtual sites of the city hall and the data were submitted to documentary analysis. The results found indicate that: seven of the nine municipalities surveyed efficiently meet more than half of the requirements established by the law for access to information; having as main difficulty the grouping of requirements related to the formatting of virtual sites, with only two of the eight items having been fully met by most capitals; as to passive transparency, legal regulation and accountability requirements, five of the seven items were in compliance with the law on most of the sites surveyed. In view of the results, it can be inferred that the virtual sites are in compliance with most of the requirements listed by LAI, responding positively to the research question. However, for greater compliance with the law, greater attention should be paid to the organization, security, integrity and accessibility of virtual sites; have information in non-proprietary, open and machine-readable formats; and with sufficient clarity and conciseness to promote conditions of inference to citizens seeking access to information of interest.