Public Information Disclosure Under Law No. 14 of 2008: Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Public Participation

Abstract

This study aims to examine the implementation of public information disclosure in Indonesia under Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure and to analyze its role in strengthening transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance. The study employs a normative-empirical legal research design, combining statutory and conceptual approaches to examine legal provisions and their implementation in institutional practice. Data were obtained from relevant laws and regulations, scholarly literature, official documents, and semi-structured interviews with government officials and members of the public involved in or affected by public information disclosure. The data were analyzed qualitatively through reduction, classification, interpretation, and synthesis, supported by source triangulation. The findings show that Law No. 14 of 2008 provides a significant legal foundation for ensuring citizens’ access to public information and strengthening public oversight. However, its implementation remains affected by institutional commitment, information management practices, accessibility, and administrative constraints. The findings also demonstrate that effective information disclosure enables citizens to monitor government activities, evaluate public services and policies, and participate in public decision-making. The study concludes that public information disclosure should not be treated merely as an administrative obligation but as an essential mechanism of transparent, accountable, and participatory governance. The contribution of this study lies in integrating normative legal analysis with empirical evidence to identify the gap between legal guarantees and institutional practices, while conceptually emphasizing information disclosure as a mechanism connecting the right to information with public oversight, institutional accountability, and meaningful participation in governance.