THE RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Abstract

The article carries out a comparative-legal analysis of the implementation of international standards of the right to access to information and examines approaches to ensuring the right to access to information in different countries. It was found that the issue of access to public information is very relevant for ordinary citizens, activists, journalists, and experts in the field of international law. However, despite the significance of providing access to information, this issue is regulated differently in various countries. International legal acts on access to justice were studied and it was figured that two categories of legal norms can be distinguished in the system of international law: norms of the so-called soft law, which are norms of a recommendatory nature, but which, under certain circumstances, can de facto act as sources of law, taking into account the application of the principle of the rule of law, and mandatory norms established in the relevant international treaties. Finally, it was concluded that the right to information is one of the most important achievements of society on the way to becoming a democratic state. The right to access information creates obligations primarily for the state, for those who replace it in the performance of certain functions, or for those who carry out administrative management of resources. As for access to information held by the state, it should be noted that the state's obligation to provide the requested information extends to all state bodies, not just executive bodies. At the same time, the exercise of these rights may be limited by law in the interests of national security, territorial integrity, or public order to prevent riots or crimes, to prevent the disclosure of information obtained in confidence, or to maintain the authority and impartiality of justice.