http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/trump-administration-blacks-out-animal-welfare-information
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a statement this morning regarding the removal of animal welfare reports from its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website: "The review of APHIS' website has been ongoing, and the agency is striving to balance the need for transparency with rules protecting individual privacy. In 2016, well before the change of Administration, APHIS decided to make adjustments to the posting of regulatory records. In addition, APHIS is currently involved in litigation concerning, among other issues, information posted on the agency's website. While the agency is vigorously defending against this litigation, in an abundance of caution, the agency is taking additional measures to protect individual privacy. These decisions are not final. Adjustments may be made regarding information appropriate for release and posting."
(Score: 1) by redneckmother on Wednesday February 08 2017, @05:16PM
Well... my point is: despite all the rhetoric about open govt and accountability during the election cycle, things are still the same (perhaps worse?).
Other articles have noted the apparent "sanitizing" of *.gov, and restrictions on external communications.
Sorry I wasn't clear.
Mas cerveza por favor.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Thursday February 09 2017, @03:13AM
The problem is that this agency's reports publish physical addresses, which have been used by animal rights groups to attack USDA-licensed animal facilities. Should your home address be published because, say, your car required inspection? This isn't transparency; it's a policy that promotes harassment.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.