# WhatDoTheyKnow / mySociety
> 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
- Logo: https://logo.clearbit.com/mysociety.org
- Slug: whatdotheyknow-mysociety
- BAI Score: 36/100
- Archetype: Challenger
- Category: Civic Technology
- Last Analyzed: August 9, 2026
## Buyer Intent Signals
Problems: 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 
Solutions: 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