Editorial: Is The Freedom Of Information Act Stifling Intellectual Freedom?

Have you heard of Kevin Folta? He’s a professor at the University of Florida and the lead actor in an ongoing set piece pitching (some) journalists against (some) scientists. They’re arguing over four letters that form the core of transparency about what our government is up to: FOIA, or Freedom of Information Act, the federal version of which turns 50 next year.

Folta ultimately cast himself in this drama as the beleaguered scientist who just says what the GMO data tell him, independent of industry influence. His purported story arc is that politicized, biased journalists unfairly attacked his character after a politically motivated FOIA request revealed a previously undisclosed relationship with Monsanto.  Continue…

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