The trajectory of access to information in Brazil: from Era Vargas to the present day

Abstract

This paper discusses a trajectory of access to information in the Federal Government, initiated by the Estado Novo (1937-1945), entering the context of the military regime (1964 to 1985), until the present day, with the implementation of the Law on Access to Information, in 2011. As reflexes were guided by the method of bibliographical and exploratory research, focusing on the description of political and cultural events that emerged for the maturation of Brazilian democracy. Under a right of principle of publicity, the 21st century citizen is guaranteed by access to information about Public Administration bodies and entities, since that confidential or personal data are not violated. The Communication Centers of the Brazilian Armed Forces are presented to treat, organize, preserve and disseminate institutional information, in accordance with current technical knowledge and legal provisions. It was concluded that, despite surrounding the information that occurred in Brazil's exception regimes, the military institutions have guaranteed the fundamental right of access to information, ensuring the social participation in public life through the Citizen Information Service (SIC).