List of Ransomware Attacks Against Schools in 2021
| Submitted | Aug. 4, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Allan Liska
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Alabama Public Records, I hereby request the following records:
A list of all schools or school districts in Alabama that have been victims of ransomware attacks in 2021 through July 31st. If possible, I'd like the school/district name, date of attack and the ransomware strain involved.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.
This request is filed by William Michael Marlow, a citizen of Alabama, in coordination with Allan Liska.
From: Department of Education
Dear Mr. Marlow and Mr. Liska,
Your request for public records, under Alabama's Open Record laws, was forwarded to me for a response. Your request was for a list of all schools or school districts in Alabama that have been victims of ransomware attacks in 2021 through July 31, including the school/district name, date of attack and the ransomware strain involved.
However, the Alabama State Department of Education is not the custodian of this information. Although there are requirements to report certain security breaches under the Alabama Data Breach Notification Act, those notifications would not be made to our agency. Additionally, such records are not subject to public record disclosure laws. See Ala. Code ยง 27-62-8 (1975).
To the extent any such information involving victims of ransomware attacks could have been sent at some point to our agency (I am not aware of that happening), the detailed information you seek would appear to not be public under applicable case law. See, e.g., Stone v. Consol. Pub. Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981)(noting exceptions to the requirement to disclose certain public records).
Sincerely,
James R. Ward
Associate General Counsel
Office of General Counsel
Alabama Department of Education
P.O. Box 302101
Montgomery, AL 36130-2101
jward01@alsde.edu<mailto:jward01@alsde.edu>
334-694-4699 (office)
334-694-4966 (fax)
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