From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe in the national/public interestbe in the national/public interestto be good or necessary for the safety or success of a country and its people I believe it is in the public interest that these facts are made known. → interest
Examples from the Corpus
be in the national/public interest• The insistence that emancipation was in the national interest expressed this.• The 1916 Senate hearings produced no debate on the question of whether concern about leprosy was in the national interest.• As such, redevelopment may be in the public interest even if it conflicts with local policy.• Matters are somewhat different when we come to dispositions where the modus is in the public interest.• An improper and dominant motive would have to be shown for revealing matters which would normally be in the public interest.• The period can be extended if continued secrecy is deemed to be in the public interest.• The judge rejected the argument that publication of the information in an article would be in the public interest. 