Thursday, July 07, 2005

Homeland Security Secrecy Over Local Data

Challenged by a local freedom of information request, a New Jersey utility asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to declare that certain digital records sought by a member of the public were protected from public disclosure.
After a New Jersey resident requested a digital copy of topographic mapping data from the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA), utility officials turned to DHS and asked that the requested information be designated as "protected critical infrastructure information (PCII)," so that they would be relieved of any obligation to disclose the data.
Last month, DHS approved the designation.

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