Category «Freedom of Information»

January 6 Clearinghouse

“Welcome to this all-source, repository of information for analysts, researchers, investigators, journalists, educators, and the public at large. Launched on June 29, and updated as of Dec. 3, 2021. If you think the January 6 Clearinghouse is missing something, please send recommendations for additional content by email to [email protected]. Sign up for the January 6 …

Subjects: Congress, Education, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

TRAC Releases New Asylum Data Tools, Adds Data on Gender, Language, and Age

“The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University released two brand new interactive asylum data tools that allow users to view detailed data on asylum applications and the asylum backlog in Immigration Court. TRAC also added detailed information on gender, language, and age—valuable information that is of considerable public interest—to its new and existing …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

As Calls to Ban Books Intensify, Digital Librarians Offer Perspective

Internet Archive Blogs: “From Texas to Virginia to Pennsylvania, there is a growing movement to challenge books in schools that some suggest are inappropriate for students. Concern goes beyond explicit content; it now includes opposition to LGBTQIA material, the history of racism, and material that may cause discomfort to readers. While efforts to ban books …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet

We’re Making the Facebook Papers Public

Gizmodo – Here’s Why and How – “Independent experts from NYU, UMass Amherst, Columbia, Marquette, and the ACLU are partnering with Gizmodo to responsibly publish this historic leak. In one of Silicon Valley’s largest leaks, a former Facebook product manager slipped financial regulators stacks of documents containing thousands of confidential memos, chat logs, and a …

Subjects: Censorship, Congress, E-Records, Financial System, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Social Media

U.S. reaches tentative settlement in excessive PACER fees lawsuit

Reuters: “The U.S. government has agreed in principle to resolve a class action lawsuit brought by a group of nonprofits alleging the federal judiciary overcharged the public for access to court documents through its PACER system. The tentative settlement was disclosed in a status report filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, more …

Subjects: Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

New ABA Legal Fact Check explores conflict over presidential executive privilege

“A new ABA Legal Fact Check released [November 17, 2021] examines whether a former U.S. president can constitutionally assert executive privilege to block the release of presidential documents held by the National Archives and Records Administration and subpoenaed by Congress. The question of whether former President Donald Trump has a legal basis to block a …

Subjects: E-Mail, E-Records, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Public Libraries Are Under Attack. Here’s How You Can Help

Harpers Bazaar – “Former librarian Angie Manfredi on the freedom to read and what you can do to support your local libraries from encroaching censorship…Nationwide, public and school librarians, along with teachers, have been under constant siege from this tide of complaints and objections, often from people who have never read the books they are …

Subjects: Censorship, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Legal Research, Libraries

Deeply Rooted: History’s Lessons for Equity in Northern Virginia

“Today’s health disparities reflect deep social divides in Northern Virginia. Decades of public health research have shown that education, income, housing, and other social conditions are powerful determinants of life expectancy and disease rates. Disparities in these living conditions, along with the harmful health effects of chronic exposure to discrimination, are products of the history …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Housing, Libraries, Transportation

UVA Law Librarian Sues DOJ to Force Release of List of Corporate Crime Settlements

Corporate Crime Reporter – The Justice Department maintains a comprehensive list of corporate crime settlements. The Trump Justice Department refused to make the list public. And now the Biden Justice Department is refusing to release the list. So last week, Jon Ashley filed a lawsuit to force the Biden Justice Department to release it. Ashley …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Libraries

Why COVID-19 Probably Killed More People Than We Realize

Harvard Business Working Knowledge: “Millions of people around the world have died from COVID-19, according to government records, but research by Ethan Rouen, George Serafeim, and Botir Kobilov suggests that the actual number could be much higher. As the number of casualties from COVID-19 ballooned at an alarming rate last year, some feared that government …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care

Tracking Freedom of Information Act Libraries

Center for Data Innovation: “Lisa DeLuca, a data librarian associated with Seton Hall University, has updated a dataset tracking Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) libraries. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires federal agencies in the United States to make certain records available to the public, and FOIA libraries serve as the official government repositories …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Libraries

Thank you!