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AI agent for journalists

Freedom of Information Appeal Agent

Make sure every worthwhile denial is appealed on time with arguments tied to the law.

WritingAutomationWriters
See how it worksGet access
Freedom of Information Appeal Agent: what goes in, what the agent does and what you get

What it does

A records request that is denied or partly denied usually gives only a short window to appeal, and the reasons are written in legal shorthand. This agent reads each denial letter, extracts the exemptions cited, the dates and the appeal route, and calculates the appeal deadline. It checks each stated ground against the text of the law and the relevant guidance or past decisions, noting where the agency's reasoning looks weak, for example blanket withholding with no segregation of exempt parts. It drafts an appeal that responds to each ground, and tracks deadlines and the agency's reply times. After a reply, it rechecks what is still withheld. It never files anything and gives no legal advice. The journalist approves each appeal. Edge case: a partial release is treated separately for each withheld part.

How it works

Follow the arrows from top to bottom. The orange dashed arrow is the loop: when a check fails, the agent goes back and tries again.

Start and resultWhat it doesA check on its own workWaits for your OKGoes back and retries
Yes, continueApprovedYes, continueNoNo 1 STARTS WHEN Denial received 2 USES A TOOL Extract exemptions, dates and the appeal route 3 DOES Calculate the appeal deadline 4 USES A TOOL Look up the law text and past decisions for eachground 5 DOES Assess each ground against the withheld material 6 CHECKS THE RESULT Is the strength of each ground clear enough todecide on an appeal? If not: search for more decisions or guidance andreassess. Back to step 4. 7 DOES Draft the appeal with a reply to each ground 8 YOU APPROVE Journalist approves the appeal and filing 9 USES A TOOL Track the agency's reply dates 10 CHECKS THE RESULT Does the reply release or still withhold material? If not: update the grounds and draft a further appeal orescalation. Back to step 5. 11 RESULT Appeal log with outcomes
Read the steps as a list
  1. Denial received
  2. Extract exemptions, dates and the appeal route
  3. Calculate the appeal deadline
  4. Look up the law text and past decisions for each ground
  5. Assess each ground against the withheld material
  6. Is the strength of each ground clear enough to decide on an appeal?If not: search for more decisions or guidance and reassess. Back to step 4.
  7. Draft the appeal with a reply to each ground
  8. Journalist approves the appeal and filingThe agent waits here for your OK.
  9. Track the agency's reply dates
  10. Does the reply release or still withhold material?If not: update the grounds and draft a further appeal or escalation. Back to step 5.
  11. Appeal log with outcomes

How it decides

It lists each cited ground and checks it against the law's wording. It recommends appeal where the ground does not fit the withheld material or the agency failed to explain it.

  • Calculate the deadline from the date on the letter and warn at 5 days left
  • Recommend appeal where a blanket exemption is claimed with no explanation
  • Treat each withheld part separately
  • Never state a legal conclusion, only the comparison to the text

Make it yours

Every agent is a starting point. You choose these settings for your own situation.

  • Jurisdiction and law
  • Warning days (default 5)
  • Appeal template
  • Decision sources
  • Escalation options

What keeps you in control

It always asks you first

  • Each appeal and its filing
  • Any escalation

Hard limits

  • Never file an appeal or give legal advice
  • Warn early about deadlines

It stops when

  • Done: records released or the journalist closes the matter
  • Stop: appeal window passes

Set it up

We guide you through the set-up, step by step

Members get the full set-up guide for this agent. No technical skills needed: you copy, paste and upload.

10 minto set it up in your AI
5 AIsChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Grok
  • One set of instructions to paste into your AI, with the clicks for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Gemini and Grok
  • The agent then walks you through connecting your own data, one source at a time
  • A downloadable copy with the flow chart, the rules and the full guide
Get access to this agent

An example run

What happensA city withheld 140 pages citing a personnel exemption. The agent set a 20 June deadline and found two past decisions requiring release of contract terms. It drafted an appeal asking for segregation of the exempt names. Eight days later, the city released 112 pages. The agent updated the log, and the journalist approved a narrower appeal for the rest.

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