Cyrus Farivar — California Supreme Court: No, you can’t hide public records on a private account

The state Supreme Court was unequivocal in its conclusion:

CPRA and the Constitution strike a careful balance between public access and personal privacy. This case concerns how that balance is served when documents concerning official business are created or stored outside the workplace. The issue is a narrow one: Are writings concerning the conduct of public business beyond CPRA's reach merely because they were sent or received using a non governmental account? Considering the statute's language and the important policy interests it serves, the answer is no. Employees' communications about official agency business may be subject to CPRA regardless of the type of account used in their preparation or transmission.

Personal privacy cannot be used to thwart public access. Public records are public regardless of how they are recorded and stored.

Ars Technica
California Supreme Court: No, you can’t hide public records on a private account
Cyrus Farivar | Senior Business Editor at Ars Technica