Pressure mounts on government by Whatsapp
THE GOVERNMENT is being taken to court over concerns that the country’s most senior ministers are commu- nicating via Whatsapp and Signal while making vital decisions. CILIP has provided an expert statement as part of the papers for a judicial review filed by transparency campaign group The Citizens who are working with the big tech and government-focused legal team Foxglove.
At the same time the Information Com- missioner has also launched a formal investigation into “the use of private corres pondence channels at the Depart- ment for Health and Social Care”.
Judicial Review
The Citizens and Foxglove say that the use of Whatsapp and Signal, where mes- sages can be deleted with no trace, is “unlawful under the Public Records Act of 1958 which requires legal checks to be made on all such messages in case they need to be kept for the public interest.” On its website Foxglove said: “This law covers, for example, messages between a special adviser and a minister about govern ment policy – such as preparations for Brexit or the response to the corona virus pandemic. It requires messages to be retained – so it can be determined whether they should be archived to maintain histor- ical decisions and released to the public.
Our partners The Citizens have already
tried to find out more about what is happen- ing. Several requests have been made under the Freedom of Information Act requesting copies of government messages on topics in the public interest. In March, when faced with no reply, the Citizens sent an initial legal letter to the government, raising serious ques- tions and concerns about the use of these apps.”
CILIP involvement CILIP was approached by Foxglove Legal for an expert statement in support of the case. CILIP CEO Nick Poole said: ”We are pleased to support this claim by The Citizens for a Judicial Review of the Government’s use of instant messaging platforms. It is an opportunity to clarify an important point of principle - that our democracy depends on the long-term integrity of the public record and that Government business should not be transacted on platforms that prevent proper scrutiny and accountability.”
ICO investigation In July Elizabeth Denham, UK Informa- tion Commissioner, explained why she had launched the ICO investigation. In a blog post she wrote: “Government decisions about public health and civil liberties, about where we can travel and who we can see, about vaccines and testing, about supporting and reshaping economies
– all these decisions are made on behalf of society by those in power. The effects of decisions taken during this time will be with us for years to come... That is why the suggestion of ministers and senior officials using private correspondence channels, such as private email accounts, to conduct sensitive official business is a concerning one. It concerns the public to feel there may be a loss of transparency about deci- sions affecting them and their loved ones. And as the regulator of data protection and freedom of information laws, it concerns me.”
Librarian support These issue was raised at CILIP’s 2020 Conference by Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian, and chair of the Digital Preser- vation Coalition, who also wrote an op ed in the Financial Times in which he said: “Whether these messages self-destruct or not, the architects of the 1958 Public Records Act had an eye to the future. The Act itself is ‘format neutral’, leaving these communications in the class of records which must be permanently preserved, not just for the sake of historians 350 years from now to pore over, but for the present public to be able to scrutinise the actions of our elected and paid officials – through the Freedom of Information Act, as they would also fall under the jurisdiction of the Information Commissioner.”
CILIP Disability Network Launches
THE Disability Network is the latest of CILIP’s diversity networks to launch, fol- lowing on from the BAME Network and the LGBTQ+ Network.
The Disability Network has been estab- lished to provide support and a platform for library, knowledge and information workers with experience of disability. Like CILIP’s other diversity networks, the aims it to create a safe and inclusive space to ask questions, share information and network. Working with CILIP and other partners, the Disability Network will support the advancement of disabled people in the workforce and the development of diverse library, knowledge and information ser- vices. It provides an authoritative voice on disability issues within the LIS community. All of CILIP’s diversity networks look
to raise the profile and participation of under-represented people in the LIS com- munity, aiming to deliver a fairer more balanced and representative workforce. Co-chairs of the network Morag Clarkson
July-August 2021
and Catherine McLaren spoke to Informa- tion Professional last month, ahead of the official launch (See Information Professional June 2021 p.26 –
https://bit.ly/2WbgMD9). CILIP Chief Executive Nick Poole welcomed
the new network, saying: “The launch of the Disability Network fulfils a commitment CILIP made in our Changing Lives Position Statement (
www.cilip.org.uk/ChangingLives) to do more for people in our profession with lived experience of disability, and I am delighted that we have been able to work with Morag, Catherine and the Steering Group to bring it to fruition.
“The network is an opportunity both to celebrate the enormous contribution that practitioners with experience of disability make to our profession, and to work together to overcome the barriers and lack of aware- ness that they continue to experience in the workplace. We will work with the Disability Network to ensure that our own work as a professional association is fully inclusive and representative of people with experi-
ence of disability in our profession. “I would like personally to thank Morag, Catherine and the team for coming forward to lead this new Network. CILIP firmly believes that the Disability Network should be run by and for people with lived expe- rience of disability, and without their hard work and commitment this launch would not have been possible.” A fourth group, The Women’s Network, is due to launch next year. All the diversity networks are free to join and open to mem- bers and non-members. There are also allies groups for those wanting to support. For more information about the Disability Network and to join, visit
www.cilip.org.uk/dis- abilitynetwork.
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