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San Jose To Appeal Ruling On City Worker Emails

SAN JOSE(CBS/AP) -- San Jose plans to fight a judge's ruling that could open the emails of thousands of government employees to the public.

The City Council voted this week to appeal last month's ruling, which declared that employee messages about city business are public records even if they were sent by a private device.

The ruling, if it stands, could affect emails, voicemails and text messages of some 5,500 workers. The city currently requires disclosure of messages about city business involving the mayor, city council members and their staff.

Mayor Chuck Reed says broadening that would be invasive and impractical.

But open-government advocates say it could plug a hole in California's Public Records Act, which never envisioned modern technology and social media.

 

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

 

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