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Using WhatDoTheyKnow.com for UK FOI Requests

WhatDoTheyKnow is the UK’s most-used FOI filing platform — but for journalists, the decision to use it involves a real exclusivity trade-off. Here is everything you need to know.

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What is WhatDoTheyKnow?

WhatDoTheyKnow (WDTK) is a free platform run by mySociety, a UK not-for-profit, that lets anyone file FOI requests to UK public authorities and automatically publishes the correspondence. It covers over 40,000 public authorities and holds more than 900,000 published requests, making it the world’s largest archive of FOI correspondence.

Requests filed via WDTK are legally valid — the platform acts as a conduit, sending your request by email to the authority’s designated FOI address. All responses, follow-ups, and appeals are recorded and published publicly within hours of receipt.

For journalists, WDTK is powerful but not always the right tool. Its public nature creates an exclusivity trade-off: once you file, anyone can see your request and the authority’s response. For routine accountability stories, that is fine — and can add credibility. For sensitive investigations, you may need to file privately and use WDTK Pro instead.

When to use WDTK — and when not to

Use WDTK when:

  • The request topic is routine or the data is not exclusively yours (e.g. local council spending)
  • You want the public accountability of a published record
  • You are building on or referencing prior WDTK requests
  • You need to demonstrate an authority's refusal pattern publicly
  • You want the community to help annotate or follow up on responses
  • You are filing the same request to multiple authorities simultaneously

File privately when:

  • The request is part of a sensitive investigation you are not ready to publish
  • You want exclusivity — competitors will see WDTK requests in near real-time
  • The request might alert the subject and prompt document destruction or a pre-emptive response
  • You are filing under a pseudonym or want to protect your identity
  • The authority is likely to challenge you on the "journalism" use of the data
  • Use WDTK Pro if you want some privacy with eventual public disclosure

Red flags for WDTK users

  • Your request is immediately visible to anyone — including the subject of your investigation, who may monitor WDTK for mentions of themselves.
  • Competitors routinely monitor WDTK for interesting requests from known investigative outlets.
  • WDTK displays your full name publicly — if you file under your byline name, your investigation topic is immediately identifiable.
  • Once published, you cannot easily unpublish a response — even if it contains accidental personal data.
  • Authorities occasionally receive WDTK requests and escalate internally in ways they would not with a direct email — the public visibility can change behaviour.
  • The WDTK archive is indexed by search engines — your request may appear in Google results within hours.

How to use WhatDoTheyKnow: step by step

1
Create an account
Register at whatdotheyknow.com with your name and email address. Your email is hidden from public view but your name will be displayed on all requests. Use your professional name if you are comfortable with your investigation topic being associated with it.
2
Search for the authority
Use the authority search to find the correct public body. WDTK has pre-verified email addresses for over 40,000 authorities. Double-check that WDTK has the correct FOI contact — for some smaller bodies, the database can be out of date.
3
Search prior requests first
Before drafting, search WDTK for prior requests on the same topic. Use keyword and authority filters. If a prior response already discloses what you need, you can use it immediately. If it was refused, read why — and decide whether your own request can overcome that refusal.
4
Draft your request
Keep it specific and factual. Request defined datasets with a date range. Avoid open-ended requests for "all documents about X" which attract s.12 cost-limit refusals. Include your preferred format (Excel, CSV, PDF). Use our FOI Request Builder to generate a well-structured draft.
5
Submit and track
Once submitted, WDTK monitors the 20-working-day deadline and sends you email reminders. If the authority is late, you can send a follow-up via the platform. All correspondence is logged automatically.
6
Follow up and appeal
If refused, WDTK provides a structured "follow up" that lets you request an internal review. This is also publicly logged. At ICO complaint stage, you will need to move off-platform and deal with the ICO directly — but the WDTK record provides excellent documentary evidence.

WhatDoTheyKnow Pro: the journalist’s option

WDTK Pro is a paid tier designed for journalists, NGOs, and researchers. Its key features for investigative reporters are:

  • Requests can be kept private for up to 6 months — giving you time to publish your story before the data is publicly visible.
  • Batch filing to multiple authorities simultaneously from a single interface.
  • Enhanced search across the WDTK archive including private responses.
  • Better tracking tools for managing large volumes of requests.
  • Dedicated support from the mySociety team.

WDTK Pro is available to journalists on a paid subscription basis. Contact mySociety at mysociety.org for pricing. Many investigative teams and newsrooms hold subscriptions.

WDTK filing checklist

  • I have searched WDTK for prior requests on this topic before drafting my own.
  • I have confirmed that using WDTK's public filing is appropriate for this investigation.
  • I have verified that WDTK has the correct FOI contact email for this authority.
  • My request is specific and asks for defined data, not open-ended documents.
  • I am comfortable with my name being publicly associated with this request topic.
  • I have set up email notifications so WDTK will alert me when the authority responds.
  • I know the 20-working-day deadline and have a follow-up plan if it is missed.
  • For sensitive investigations: I am using WDTK Pro or filing directly to preserve exclusivity.

Draft your FOI request

Use our FOI Request Builder to generate a well-structured request — then paste it into WhatDoTheyKnow or send it directly by email.

Open FOI Request Builder

Common mistakes

  • Filing a sensitive investigation request on WDTK — competitors and subjects monitor it in near real-time.
  • Not searching prior WDTK requests before filing — someone may already have the data you need.
  • Assuming WDTK Pro keeps requests private indefinitely — the default is 6 months, after which they become public.
  • Filing under a recognisable byline name when you want to protect your investigation topic.
  • Ignoring the annotation and follow-up features — WDTK's public record-keeping is a powerful tool for accountability journalism.
  • Treating the WDTK archive as authoritative without verifying — some responses are old, some are redacted, and errors exist.
  • Not keeping your own copy of disclosures — WDTK is a third-party platform and its records are not guaranteed to persist.

Related guides

FOI Tracker Template
Manage multiple requests alongside WDTK with a spreadsheet system.
FOI Appeal Case Studies
What ICO and Tribunal decisions teach about challenging refusals.
20+ FOI Story Ideas by Beat
Proven angles to file — whether via WDTK or directly.
How to File an FOI Request
Full step-by-step guide for any UK public authority.

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Frequently asked questions

Is WhatDoTheyKnow legally valid for filing FOI requests?
Yes. A request sent via WhatDoTheyKnow is a valid FOI request. The platform sends your request by email to the authority's designated FOI inbox, and all correspondence is recorded. The authority is legally required to respond under the same obligations as if you had emailed directly. The ICO has confirmed that requests filed via WDTK are legally compliant.
Can I file anonymously on WhatDoTheyKnow?
Not exactly. You must create an account with your real name and email address. However, your email address is hidden from public view — the authority sees a WDTK-generated address. Your name as it appears on your account is public. If you want to file under a pseudonym or protect your identity, you would need to file directly with the authority rather than via WDTK.
What is WhatDoTheyKnow Pro and how much does it cost?
WhatDoTheyKnow Pro is a paid service for journalists, researchers, and civil society organisations. It allows you to keep requests private for up to six months before they become public, file in bulk, and access enhanced tracking features. Pricing is on a sliding scale — contact mySociety for journalist rates. Many newsrooms subscribe for investigative teams.
Can I use someone else's WDTK request to file a follow-up?
Not directly — WDTK follow-up requests are linked to the original account. However, you can use a prior disclosure as evidence in your own separate request to the same or a different authority. You can also annotate existing requests publicly, which builds a community record. If a disclosure is already public, you can cite and build on it in your own reporting.
How do I remove personal information from a WDTK response?
If an authority accidentally discloses personal data about you or a third party in a WDTK response, you can request that mySociety redact it by contacting them directly. mySociety takes data protection seriously and will act on legitimate requests. You cannot edit responses yourself. Authorities occasionally ask mySociety to redact information they have accidentally disclosed.

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