FOIA section 7(1)(o)

FOIA

Data-processing/IT security information

5 ILCS 140/7(1)(o). Data-processing/IT security information

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4 issues across 4 determination letters:1 violation found · 3 no violation.

Counts are per issue, not per letter, and come from automated extraction checked against sampled letters. Determination letters are not binding precedent.

Authorities the Bureau cites most on this issue

Chapman v. Chicago Department of Finance, 2022 IL App (1st) 200547, ¶ 36 cited 3 times

Drafting brief for an AI assistant

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TOPIC: 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(o) - Data-processing/IT security information
SOURCE: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau decisions compiled at https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-o/
NOTE: Determination letters are not binding precedent; they show how the Bureau applies the law. Verify every decision against the source PDF before citing it.

VIOLATION FOUND (1):
- Redaction of internal meeting hyperlinks
  Rule: A public body must show more than a possibility of a security threat; conclusory assertions that meeting links could enable hacking are insufficient.
  Decision: Athletic department correspondence with an NIL group (non-binding determination letter, November 22, 2024) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80318/

NO VIOLATION (3):
- Denial of ALPR user guide under section 7(1)(o)
  Rule: User guides are per se exempt under section 7(1)(o) as administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, so no security showing is required.
  Decision: ALPR system user guide for in-car use (non-binding determination letter, March 25, 2025) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82383/
- Embedded cost table exempt as software under section 7(1)(o)
  Rule: Information embedded in software is part of the software and is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(o) of FOIA.
  Decision: A proprietary cost table in assessment software (non-binding determination letter, March 3, 2025) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84329/
- Section 7(1)(o) exemption for AIRA manual
  Rule: AIRA manual contains technical and administrative automated data processing information whose disclosure would jeopardize system security.
  Decision: Police case reports and an internal software manual (non-binding determination letter, May 7, 2018) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51718/

MOST-CITED AUTHORITIES: Chapman v. Chicago Department of Finance, 2022 IL App (1st) 200547, ¶ 36

TASK FOR THE ASSISTANT: Using only the decisions above, help draft a letter. Argue from the rule and cite the decision by name and date. Do not invent decisions.

Violation found (1)

Redaction of internal meeting hyperlinks
Rule: A public body must show more than a possibility of a security threat; conclusory assertions that meeting links could enable hacking are insufficient.
Violation found Athletic department correspondence with an NIL group · November 22, 2024

No violation (3)

Denial of ALPR user guide under section 7(1)(o)
Rule: User guides are per se exempt under section 7(1)(o) as administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, so no security showing is required.
No violation ALPR system user guide for in-car use · March 25, 2025
Embedded cost table exempt as software under section 7(1)(o)
Rule: Information embedded in software is part of the software and is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(o) of FOIA.
No violation A proprietary cost table in assessment software · March 3, 2025
Section 7(1)(o) exemption for AIRA manual
Rule: AIRA manual contains technical and administrative automated data processing information whose disclosure would jeopardize system security.
No violation Police case reports and an internal software manual · May 7, 2018