As federal agencies increasingly use artificial intelligence to process public records requests, new research calls for stronger transparency requirements. In the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary, Ronald Capaldi argues that the U.S. government should implement algorithmic audits to monitor how AI is used in the FOIA process. 

Capaldi recommends that agencies be required to publicly explain how AI systems are deployed when managing records requests. He also calls for clarifying FOIA’s trade secret exemption to ensure agencies can’t use it to withhold details about procedures developed by third-party contractors implementing AI solutions. 

The proposal highlights growing concern that AI could make the public records process less transparent if its use is not carefully disclosed and regulated. 

Posted: July 24, 2025
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Brechner FOI Project, Brechner Freedom of Information Project, FOI, FOIA, open records laws, public records, Secrecy Tracker