{
  "slug": "whatdotheyknow-mysociety",
  "name": "WhatDoTheyKnow / mySociety",
  "description": "WhatDoTheyKnow is a project of mySociety that simplifies the process for individuals, journalists, and campaigners to submit Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to UK public bodies. It publishes all requests and responses in a permanent, searchable online archive, fostering transparency and public access to information. It also offers open-source software, Alaveteli, for other countries to build similar FOI platforms.",
  "url": "https://optimly.ai/brand/whatdotheyknow-mysociety",
  "websiteUrl": null,
  "logoUrl": "https://logo.clearbit.com/mysociety.org",
  "baiScore": 36,
  "bai_tier_status": "active",
  "bai_score_status": "active",
  "archetype": "Challenger",
  "archetype_status": "active",
  "category": "Civic Technology",
  "categorySlug": null,
  "keyFacts": [],
  "aiReadiness": [],
  "competitors": [],
  "competitorsProse": null,
  "inboundCompetitors": [],
  "aiAlternatives": [],
  "parentBrand": null,
  "subBrands": [],
  "updatedAt": "2026-08-09T00:02:41.307Z",
  "verifiedVitals": {
    "website": "https://mysociety.org",
    "founded": "2008",
    "headquarters": "United Kingdom",
    "pricing_model": "Free for the main WhatDoTheyKnow.com service. WhatDoTheyKnowPro is a paid service (implied subscription/fee). Alaveteli is open-source software.",
    "core_products": "WhatDoTheyKnow.com (public FOI request platform and archive), WhatDoTheyKnowPro (private FOI platform), Alaveteli (open-source software for FOI sites).",
    "key_differentiator": "Simplifies complex FOI requests, creates a permanent public archive of requests and responses, fosters transparency by default, provides open-source software for global replication, and is administered by a dedicated volunteer team with expertise in FOI law.",
    "target_markets": "General public, journalists, campaigners, researchers, non-governmental organizations, public bodies (as recipients of requests), international civic tech organizations.",
    "employee_count": "Administered by a dedicated team of volunteers (for WhatDoTheyKnow). mySociety, the parent organization, employs staff.",
    "funding_stage": "Not explicitly mentioned for WhatDoTheyKnow, but mySociety operates as a non-profit, likely funded by grants, donations, and potentially paid services like WhatDoTheyKnowPro.",
    "subcategory": "Freedom of Information Platform"
  },
  "intentTags": {
    "problemIntents": [
      "Direct FOI request submission: Individuals can submit Freedom of Information requests directly to public bodies, typically via email or letter, requiring them to identify the correct authority, contac",
      "Legal or advocacy firm: Hiring legal professionals or specialized advocacy groups to handle FOI requests on one's behalf. This alternative offers expertise and potentially higher success rates for com",
      "Forgo information requests: Choosing not to pursue specific information from public bodies, resulting in a lack of transparency and potentially missed opportunities to hold authorities accountable or "
    ],
    "solutionIntents": [
      "Freedom of Information UK request",
      "WhatDoTheyKnow FOI",
      "mySociety projects",
      "Alaveteli software",
      "how to make an FOI request UK",
      "General news archives or investigative journalism: Relying on traditional journalistic investigations or publicly available news archives to uncover information. This often means waiting for informati"
    ],
    "evaluationIntents": []
  },
  "timestamp": 1786351561253
}