April 11, 2008

EPIC Obtains Documents Revealing Federal Role In State Fusion Center Secrecy

Pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, EPIC has obtained a Memorandum of Understanding (pdf) between the FBI and the Virginia State Police that limits the state's open government law. The agreement requires the state agency to comply with federal regulations that restrict the disclosure of public records about the Virginia Fusion Center that would otherwise be available to the public. But many other documents that EPIC is seeking about the fusion center and communications between the State Police and federal agencies have not yet been disclosed. At a hearing today in Richmond, a District Court judge required the State Police to produce all records that EPIC has sought by Monday, April 14. The Virginia Governor is currently considering a bill that would limit the state's open government and privacy laws for the Virginia Fusion Center.

EPIC Obtains Documents Revealing Federal Role In State Fusion Center Secrecy, Electronic Privacy Information Center, April 11, 2008.