Administrative and legal foundations for ensuring information security and access to public information in the activities of law enforcement agencies within the national security sector

This article presents a systematic analysis of the administrative and legal framework for safeguarding information security and ensuring the right of access to public information in the operations of law enforcement agencies within the national security sector. In the context of digital transformation and ongoing hybrid aggression, the dual imperative of protecting the informational domain and maintaining transparency in public governance has become critically important. Openness of state institutions, procedural transparency, and public access to government activities are integral to democratic governance, yet they require careful balancing with national security demands and the protection. The study examines the dual functional nature of law enforcement bodies, which are simultaneously responsible for defending the information space against cyberattacks, system intrusions, and disinformation, while also ensuring the constitutional right of citizens to access public information. Emphasis is placed on the need for transparent procedures when restricting access to information, the development of robust oversight mechanisms for safeguarding information rights. Particular attention is paid to challenges such as formalistic responses to information requests, abuse of exemption clauses, ambiguous classification criteria, and inter-agency coordination gaps. The role of digital tools is also analyzed, with a focus on the functionality of open data platforms, e-governance services, and electronic document management systems. The article underlines the importance of fostering an internal culture of transparency within the public sector one that goes beyond formal compliance and embraces intrinsic motivation toward openness, accountability, and civic engagement. Through an integrated approach, the study argues that the effectiveness of state information policy in security and openness hinges on its capacity to reconcile rapid responses to threats with democratic standards of public governance. Achieving equilibrium between citizens’ right to information and the imperative of national security is essential for ensuring the resilience and legitimacy of the state in the digital era.