Democratic participation depends on information. The right to know is the principle that the public is entitled to access information about government activities and other matters of collective concern, often embodied in freedom-of-information and open-meeting laws.

Journalists invoke the right to know when seeking records, attending public sessions, or justifying publication of material officials prefer to withhold. The principle competes with legitimate interests in privacy, security, and effective deliberation. Legal systems draw the boundary differently across countries and over time.

Practical exercise of the right to know requires usable request processes, enforceable deadlines, and independent review of denials. Where those mechanisms are weak, the formal right means little. Strong right-to-know regimes support both watchdog journalism and ordinary civic oversight.

• Public entitlement to information on government and civic matters
• Supported by access-to-information laws
• Balanced against privacy and security concerns
• Enables watchdog reporting and civic participation