As governments contend with the challenges of keeping information safe from hackers, they must simultaneously comply with state and local transparency laws that require them to make records of communications available to the public. Messaging apps that don’t create an archived record of conversations create more work when responding to public-records requests and leave government entities vulnerable to complaints and lawsuits. EIE Legal is compiling a list of nationwide text messaging lawsuits being brought against government entities to demonstrate the growing problem.
NEW! Now you can view Public Record Laws & Cases by State
Visit encryptedinfoex.com/public-record-map , click on a state to view the state's current public record test messaging laws and recent incidents.
Ann Arbor, MI resident requested records of city council members communication with resident Pat Lesko since the beginning of the year, including emails, texts and direct messages over social media. A judge ruled that these messages are part of the public record and need to be provided.

Documents show that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and his staff were in frequent contact with board members to hire Robert Caslen to be the next president of the University of South Carolina.

Government offices in Texas are working to figure out how a new Public Record Law applies to them. The new law makes any related text messages subject to public scrutiny. The law applies to messages sent on work or personal devices.

Former Gov. Eric Greitens’ spent taxpayer money to defend himself in a lawsuit alleging he and his staff used the self-destructing Confide app to to subvert Missouri’s open records laws.

As of September 1, 2019, the new law requires any public official who texts about public business now save the text messages for at least two years. The law applies to almost anyone who receives a public paycheck. The law does not differentiate between publicly issued or private devices if the person is texting about public business.

Secure Messaging App for Government
EIE Legal is an encrypted messaging app specifically designed to meet the needs of government entities and ease compliance with FOIA, Open Meetings Act or Sunshine regulations. EIE Legal provides complete privacy and gives users an efficient, encrypted means of communication with staff and colleagues.

In order to take every step possible to protect your communications, choose a messaging platform that has end-to-end encryption and archiving technology. EIE Legal allows users to print or save copies off archived records. The difference with our app is the “encrypted transparency.” TM
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Previous Government Text Messaging Cases:
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