Member Discussion
Should Government Security System Contracts Be Exempt From Disclosure?
In May, we showed you how to obtain government surveillance contracts using FOIA. We routinely use FOIA to get copies of contracts and RFPs that we review on IPVM. Most state and local FOIA regulations have provisions that exempt them from disclosing documents related to security, but they don't use them because contracts and agreements are usually looked at as fiscal documents rather than security documents.
Last June I received my first rejection from a local government using a security exemption. The entity cited an exemption that protects information that would "jeopardize the security of a public agency."
I'd like to know your opinions:
If so, why?
If not, do you worry the information could "fall into the wrong hands?"
What, just a list of equipment and amount paid? How could that jeopardize anything? It's not like you're asking for locations, after all. Maybe it would be different if anyone invented analytics that actually worked, and you could figure out how to spoof the analytics based on known capabilities. Or something.
I agree with Ari, they should not be allowed to dismiss requests out of hand citing the too broad reason of "security concerns".
When I requested the winning contract for the 2012 Republican National Convention I got a redacted copy, which I understood, but it still had enough information to give me what I was looking for, which was what were the brands used, who did the work and how much it cost.
Sad thing is sometimes agency employees either don't know what legally they have to or not have to disclose, or maybe they don't want to bother so they just say "I can't disclose that". It's not their money if there's a challenge so sometimes the only way to get info is to get a lawyer and file suit.
It looks like there were some yes votes. I'd be interested in hearing more from those. Feel free to comment undisclosed.
This is sensitive information and could be used to compromise the system.
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