Many states already had laws governing the release of public records dating back decades, with some, such as Florida, eventually enshrining the right to them in their constitutions (Winkler 2010). Ever since, federal and state governments have tried to balance the public interest in transparency and accountability with the privacy essential to allow both government and society to function.
Open records laws are critical tools that enable people to learn more about how public officials make decisions, and to hold them accountable. Individuals But the federal government was behind the curve. Many states already had laws governing the release of public records dating back decades, with some, such as Florida, eventually enshrining the right to them in their constitutions (Winkler, 2010). Ever since, federal and state governments have tried to balance the public interest in transparency and accountability with the privacy essential to allow both government and society to function.
These laws often apply not only to public agencies but also to private contractors that maintain government records. As institutions partially funded by taxpayer dollars, universities, too, are subject to open records laws. As a result, universities have long wrestled with tension among three values that these laws promote: openness, personal privacy, and the ability of researchers to communicate frankly with
one another (Braman and Cleveland 1984).
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