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How NY Gov. Cuomo Sidesteps Freedom of Information Requests With His Blackberry

New submitter wrekkuh writes "The Daily News is reporting that if aides of New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo cannot speak in person or by telephone with the Governor, they are told to use BlackBerry's PIN-to-PIN messaging system — a function that leaves no lasting trail because it bypasses data-saving email servers. Consequently, a Freedom of Information request for all e-mails to and from Governor Cuomo's office resulted in an empty reply from the Records Access Officer: 'Please be advised that the New York State Executive Chamber has conducted a diligent search, but does not possess records responsive to your request.'"

9 of 306 comments (clear)

  1. freedom of Rim by alphatel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do sysmgr geeks love RIM? Above is one of many reasons, along with enterprise integration, remote administration, custom device policies. For years nothing could compete.

    Droids/iStuff can run apps, but none of them could do exactly what a BB does, although perhaps that gap is narrowing. Too bad RIM is so far behind on the game nowadays no one will buy their devices and market share is plunging. 10% of value 1 year ago? Madness.

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    1. Re:freedom of Rim by Teresita · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe if they ask real nice, the NSA can give the FOIA requestors their not-so-blank copy of the "blank" email archive.

  2. Repost from 1896 by paiute · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Never write if you can speak; never speak if you can nod; never nod if you can wink." - Martin Michael Lomasney

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  3. Re:Not a surprise by Teresita · · Score: 5, Funny

    I really want to watch the Kardasians but DS9 ain't even in syndication anymore.

  4. Using personal email is an old dodge by Karmashock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Everything needs to be on record. It has to be a criminal offense to systematically use systems with no log. These people are public officials with enormous power. The ability to find out who knew what when is vital to the public trust.

    What public officials are effectively saying is that we need to make this a felony for them to take it seriously. A felony conviction amongst other things would invalidate them from public service ever again. So indifferent to whether they actually served any jail time it would be the irrevocable end to their political career.

    I don't see any reason to bother even sending them to jail for it. Just give them a felony conviction with a 1000 dollar fine for court fees.

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  5. Re:What usually happens by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The "pick any two" canard is for when there are actual constraints making all three impossible. There's no reason beyond corruption that we can't have all three of those.

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  6. Re:I think this is reasonable by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How else can they sit down with their legislative friends and reach a compromise

    You misspelled cronies and scam.

    if they can't discuss things that the special interests or their own party would attack them for

    They can. They just need the balls to explain why the public interest trumps the special interest.

    If we want compromise, people need to be free to talk privately.

    And if we want accountability, politicians must never talk privately.

    You are aware that public shaming is a deterrant for some politicans to do the right thing. Can you understand that it is also a deterrent for politicans to do the wrong thing? Give them the power to keep secrets, and they will keep the wrong kinds of secrets. Sunlight, as always, is the best disinfectant.

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  7. It was a big issue here too by Quila · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Bush administration was raked over the coalsby the press for Blackberry use, and Sarah Palin was nailed for occasionally using private email as governor. Currently the press is complaining about Romney deleting information when he left as governor.

    Note the common denominator: They're all Republicans. I'll be surprised if the press inflates this to the scale of a national scandal since Cuomo is a Democrat.

    The mainstream press didn't care much when the Clinton administration "lost" thousands of emails under subpoena, even with a Democrat operative threatening contractors who were knew about the loss, and the fact that person got promoted out of the mess. I hear the Obama administration has hired her for a sensitive post at Cyber Command, *chirp* *chirp*.

  8. Re:Not a surprise by quacking+duck · · Score: 5, Funny

    The difference between Cardassian and Kardashians is that one group are a bunch of cold, heartless, reptilian creatures, and the other is an alien race from a Star Trek series.