foi

FOI, commonly abbreviated FOIA, stands for Freedom of Information. It refers to laws and practices that give the public a right to access information held by government bodies and other public authorities. The goal is transparency and accountability. Typical features include a right to submit requests, a statutory response deadline, and a system of exemptions for privacy, national security, law enforcement, commercial secrets, and ongoing investigations. Procedures and scope differ by country; some regimes require fees or provide timelier disclosures than others. In the United States, the Freedom of Information Act (1966) governs access to federal agency records, while the United Kingdom operates under the Freedom of Information Act (2000). Many other nations have comparable laws, often expanded by supplementary amendments or data-protection regimes. FOI requests have supported journalism, research, and oversight, but critics highlight delays, refusals, and broad exemptions.

Foi is also a common word in Portuguese. It is the third-person singular past tense of the verbs ser and ir, meaning “it was” or “he/she went,” depending on context. Examples: "Foi um dia longo" (It was a long day); "Ele foi ao mercado" (He went to the market). In Portuguese, foi is widely used in speech and writing and is distinct from "é" (is) and "vai" (goes).