The ICO exists to empower you through information.

Once you’ve decided that you can disclose the information, this flowchart shows the decisions and the steps to take when releasing that information which you hold as a dataset. 

We want this to provide practical guidance for you when applying the dataset provisions. It supplements this guidance document. It is not possible to give a full explanation of the process within the flowchart itself. You should read the guidance document for definitions of the terms used here and a full explanation of the dataset provisions.     

The starting point for the flowchart is that you have received a request and have identified information which is not exempt and which you’re going to release under FOIA.

Flowchart to show the process from receiving a request

An accessible, written description of this diagram (suitable for screen readers) is available.