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ALA Seeks Public Input on Rules for Homeland Security InformationThe American Library Association was among 75 advocacy organizations that sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge August 26 urging his department to give the public an opportunity to provide input on procedures currently being developed that may restrict access to vaguely defined “homeland security information.”The groups—which also represent journalists, scientists, environmental groups, and privacy advocates—voiced concern that the procedures restrict “sensitive but unclassified” information that may relate to the threat of terrorist activity or the ability to prevent future attacks. They also fear that the rules would subject millions of persons inside and outside of government to nondisclosure agreements and impose criminal penalties for disclosing information improperly. Although the agency has the authority to proceed without public comment, the groups say the public should have the opportunity to address the question of “whether these procedures would preclude public access to information that community residents, parents, journalists, and others in the public currently obtain from or with the assistance of government to make their communities safer, inform the public, or for other reasons.” The letter asks Ridge to release a draft version of the new procedures for public comment and to address public comments in writing. Posted September 8, 2003. |
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