Virginia has enacted more than 30 changes to its Freedom of Information Act since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with most of them limiting access to public information.
Of the 31 exemptions to records and meetings laws that were passed from 2002 to 2005, 20 limited access to information and 11 loosened restrictions, according to an analysis of state laws done for The Associated Press.
Changes tied to concerns about homeland security were approved in 2002 and 2003. After negotiations between homeland security officials and open-government advocates, the FOI law was amended to keep confidential “critical infrastructure” records submitted to government by utilities and private businesses. Supporters said the exemptions were needed to protect dams and nuclear plants, but opponents said the bill allowed too many exclusions.
In FOIA legislation related to [privacy] concerns, various measures were enacted to try to get Social Security numbers removed from public documents.