[debate] Government email open to the public (fwd)

[Lutz Donnerhacke <lutz@as-node.jena.thur.de>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 01:27:34 -0700
From: Cyber Rights <cyber-rights@Sunnyside.COM>
To: "Multiple recipients of list cyber-rights@cpsr.org"
     <listserv-reply-errors@snyside.sunnyside.com>
Subject: cr> Government email open to the public

In at least two cases, courts have ruled that electronic mail between
elected officials or public employees should be open to the public
just like other government records.  One such case involved Oliver
North's trial, and the other involved demands by a reporter that he
have access to email exchanged by local government officials.
(Perhaps somebody can refresh my memory as to where that case took
place.)

Now a civil servant (who would rather let me do the talking) wonders
whether email is private if he telecommutes from home.  He uses his
home computer for many things, personal and work-related, including
exchanges of email with other government employees related to his job.
Can his personal email storage by subpoenaed?  It looks to me like the
answer is "yes."

Andy

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