This has been recognized internationally since 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed it in Article 19:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers...? Article 13 of the Lebanese Constitution acknowledges oral and written freedom of expression, but to date, there is no law guaranteeing access to information or protection for whistleblowers, those individuals who report corruption. The National Network for the Right of Access to Information seeks to change that by advocating for the passage of legislation that would do both. The Network was formed on April 11, 2008, and submitted a draft law on Access to Information on April 14, 2009.