Want to Obtain FBI Records a Little Quicker? Try New eFOIA System
From the post:
The FBI recently began open beta testing of eFOIA, a system that puts Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests into a medium more familiar to an ever-increasing segment of the population. This new system allows the public to make online FOIA requests for FBI records and receive the results from a website where they have immediate access to view and download the released information.
Previously, FOIA requests have only been made through regular mail, fax, or e-mail, and all responsive material was sent to the requester through regular mail either in paper or disc format. “The eFOIA system,” says David Hardy, chief of the FBI’s Record/Information Dissemination Section, “is for a new generation that’s not paper-based.” Hardy also notes that the new process should increase FBI efficiency and decrease administrative costs.
The eFOIA system continues in an open beta format to optimize the process for requesters. The Bureau encourages requesters to try eFOIA and to e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov with any questions or difficulties encountered while using it. In several months, the FBI plans to move eFOIA into full production mode.
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The post gives a list of things you need to know/submit in order to help with beta testing of the eFOIA system.
Why help the FBI?
It’s true, I often chide the FBI for its padding of terrorism statistics by framing the mentally ill and certainly its project management skills are nothing to write home about.
Still, there are men and women in the FBI who do capture real criminals and not just the gullible or people who have offended the recording or movie industries. There are staffers, like the ones behind the eFOIA project, who are trying to do a public service, despite the bad apples in the FBI barrel.
Let’s give them a hand, even though decisions on particular FOIA requests may be quite questionable. Not the fault of the technology or the people who are trying to make it work.
What are you going to submit an FOIA about?
I first saw this in a tweet by Nieman Lab.