[Random-bits] KEI asks for hearing on use of private email services to avoid FOIA

[James Love]

KEI asks for Congressional hearing on use of private email services to
avoid FOIA

http://www.keionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171

March 21, 2008

Honorable Rep. Henry A. Waxman
United States House of Representatives
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-4099


Senator Patrick Leahy
United States Senate
433 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 224-3479

Dear Representative Waxman and Senator Leahy:

We are writing to express our concern about the practices undertaken by
U.S. government officials that monitor and implement trade policies in
the area of pharmaceutical drugs and intellectual property rights. There
is evidence of the practice of using commercial email accounts, such as
Yahoo and Hotmail, in order to avoid communications being searchable and
subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Government officials use these accounts to communicate with each other,
and also to maintain contacts and exchange information with industry
lobby groups, often collaborating to undermine efforts in the United
States and in developing countries to protect consumers.

The goal of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure that officials
are accountable, and to promote and increase the transparency that is
essential for a democratic society.

Knowledge Ecology International often attempts to determine what U.S.
federal officials are doing with regards to pressuring developing
countries in matters concerning global negotiations on intellectual
property rights, and the domestic implementation of patent and copyright
laws. Federal officials are using commercial email services to conduct
official U.S. policy outside of the reach of agency infrastructures that
have the legal authority and responsibility to administer the FOIA.

We request a hearing on this problem, which we believe is not limited to
the situations about which we are most concerned. At such a hearing,
federal agencies should be asked to speak frankly about this issue, and
to explain why it does not undermine Congressional efforts to make
federal employees more accountable and their actions more transparent.

Sincerely,


James Love

Director
Knowledge Ecology International



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_____________________________
James Love, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
http://www.keionline.org, mailto:james.love@keionline.org
voice +1.202.332.2670, fax +1.202.332.2673, US mobile +1.202.361.3040,
Geneva mobile +41.76.413.6584

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