AT-HOME WORK NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED: INFORMATION CZAR

The federal information czar says the shift to doing government work at home is underscoring a need to ensure decisions are properly documented. Information commissioner Caroline Maynard is concerned the use of instant messaging, email and team- sharing tools might mean some communications slip though the digital cracks. Maynard is an ombudsman for users of the Access to Information Act, which allows people to request government records ranging from briefing notes to meeting minutes. However, the law doesn’t require federal agencies to create records, only to provide what they have. During a panel discussion, Maynard notes commissioners have been pressing the government to usher in a formal duty to document government decisions.