DoJ Answers FOIA Request After Six Years With No Real Information 107
An anonymous reader writes "In response to a Freedom of Information Act request about Google's 2007 complaint against Windows Vista search interference, the Department of Justice has after six years released 114 partially redacted pages and 60 full pages of material. Yet these 'responsive documents' consist of public news articles and email boilerplate. All the substantive information has been blacked out."
Re:Give 'em a break. (Score:5, Interesting)
Pretty much. FOIA itself is a joke. The government is a big enough beurocracy that a six-year delay seems pretty quick to me, so I don't expect the purported transparency actually changed behavior at all. However, since some information might eventually come out, nobody with concerns can voice them to anybody else without risking a big scandal (and their career) later. That undermines any internal oversight, since nothing can be handled discreetly in an official capacity. Sure, we can ask for information now, but there won't be anything there to find, and the result is that nothing will improve. Mistakes, bad judgement, and outright evil will still happen, and now it's even less likely to stop.
Then, of course, there's the redaction. By allowing any redaction, FOIA releases are little more than publicity stunts. because the public will always question what's redacted - even if it's just all the adverbs. When the redactions are substantial, but justified, there's no real way to communicate to the public that they've stumbled on something important. In all courses, FOIA responses cast more doubt on the government, whether it's legitimate concern or not.
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Give 'em a break. (Score:4, Interesting)
I think the better question is Why does the DOJ ever need to have secrecy in a civil matter after the case has been settled.
Because you can not see the deal that was struck.
The DOJ found that Microsoft was "Really Fucking Guilty" on this one. (Legal term)
So they made Microsoft promise to give massive back doors to all their software then agreed to enter the mobile market so that could be back doored as well.
Then to keep Googles mouth shut about it they gave Google complete ownership of Kansas City and Austin.
Re:Great Black Hope (Score:2, Interesting)
Fuck the Republicans.
Fuck the Democrats as well.
Neither one of those parties give a shit about any of us.
What has to change is the people.
When you know someone who is a shit worker and gets fired and sues the company. Get rid of them as a friend. Shame them.
When you know a person suing a company because the dangerous product was dangerous. Get rid of them as a friend. Shame them.
When you know someone who is collecting food stamps and does not need them. Get rid of them as a friend. Shame them.
When you know someone who is having their third kid on the states dime. Get rid of them as a friend. Shame them.
When you do not do these things YOU are the problem.
Tolerance is not acceptance.