Pentagon memo: docs about Google's Project Maven are exempt from disclosure via FOIA inquiries because they constitute “critical infrastructure security” info
In September 2017, Aileen Black wrote an email to her colleagues at Google. Black, who led sales to the U.S. government … Tweets: @samfbiddle , @franticgoat , @openthegov , @samfbiddle , @emilymanna , @samfbiddle , @digiphile , and @samfbiddle Tweets: Sam Biddle / @samfbiddle : also worth keeping in mind the 2017 email from a former Google defense sales exec in which she wrote “We will call [the Pentagon] tomorrow to reinforce the need to keep Google under the radar” with regards to Project Maven https://theintercept.com/... Joseph Trevithick / @franticgoat : From this, it looks like the request was specifically for records related to the application of Google's technology. If so, this is a very narrow request. 10 USC 130 gets used all the time to exempt technical data like this. https://interc.pt/2TtKI6h pic.twitter.com/W0Rq2UZxv0 @openthegov : Yes, it's an incredibly large blanket exemption & highly unlikely not a single page out of 5,000 could be released. It also raises questions about DoD's other private contracts. @OpenTheGov will call on Congress to exercise oversight so this doesn't become the new ‘normal’ #FOIA http://twitter.com/... Sam Biddle / @samfbiddle : DoD told me they found 5000 (!) pgs of docs relevant to my request but disclosing EVEN WITH redactions would “provide an adversary with the information necessary to disrupt, destroy, or damage DoD, technology, military operations, facilities, and endanger the lives of personnel.” Emily Manna / @emilymanna : This is outrageous. DoD says the entirety of 5,000 pages of docs on Google's work on Project Maven are exempt from release under FOIA bc they contain “critical infrastructure information” https://theintercept.com/... Sam Biddle / @samfbiddle : I get why DoD won't just turn over 5,000 pages of documents about a military drone targeting program. But throwing a blanket over the entire project by invoking a law meant to protect physical installations and chemical weapons plants is extreme. Alex Howard / @digiphile : The @DeptOfDefense should never be exempt from FOIA: http://sunlightfoundation.com/ ...I hope @RepCummings @ChuckGrassley & others seek answers on often DoD is abusing this exemption: http://www.law.cornell.edu/... http://twitter.com/... Sam Biddle / @samfbiddle : according to a Pentagon memo signed at the end of last year, all of Google's military drone AI work on Project Maven is completely exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. That's really bad! http://theintercept.com/...