Boston Accountability Network v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20232760)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 29, 2023 SPR23/2760 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Boston Accountability Network appealing the response of the City of Boston (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66 § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 23, 2023, the requestor sought “[a]ny and all digital communications involving . . . from Wednesday, October 18, 2023 to include: text messages, iMessages, emails, encrypted messaging services (i.e., Signal, WhatsApp, etc.), phone call logs, etc. Additionally . . . the data files from any encrypted messaging apps utilized by . . . as it relates to her professional duties in both ‘TXT’ and ‘JSON’ formats.” The City responded on November 6, 2023. Unsatisfied with the response, the requestor petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2760, was opened as a result. In an email correspondence on November 17, 2023, a City representative stated that the City intends on providing a further response to the requestor. Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide the requestor with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. The requestor may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Boston Accountability Network One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us