Court Denies Freedom of Information Request Relating To NYPD Surveillance of Muslims

In Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund v. New York City Police Department, (NY Sup. Ct., May 6, 2013), a New York trial court upheld the NYPD's rejection of a Freedom of Information Law request by two groups seeking to learn more about the city's domestic surveillance program that targeted Muslims.  The groups sought information regarding record keeping and retention, policy guidelines and statistics related to the surveillance. The court said that the city properly relied on the statutory exemption for information "compiled for law enforcement purposes and which, if disclosed, would: (i) interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings; [or] (iii) identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information relating to a criminal investigation; or (iv) reveal criminal investigative techniques or procedures ." The court also identified several other exceptions that would justify denial of parts of the FOIL request. The New York Daily News reports on the decision.