CIA ARCINS results for New World Translation
| Submitted | Nov. 17, 2010 |
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Communications
From: Jason Smathers
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All records responsive to a keyword search of the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system for "New World Translation"
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143
Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com
From: Central Intelligence Agency
From: Jason Smathers
I requested "All records responsive to a keyword search of the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system." In a letter dated 12 November 2010 Scott Koch denied my request stating that "The ARCINS system is no longer operational and cannot be searched. Therefore we are unable to assist you with your request." I appeal.
I understand the ARCINS system is no longer operational and cannot be searched, which is why I requested a search of "the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system."
Please initiate a search for the records requested.
From: Central Intelligence Agency
A letter denying appeal.
From: Central Intelligence Agency
A rejection letter citing too broad of a request
From: Central Intelligence Agency
From: Jason Smathers
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510
College Park, MD 20740
December 20, 2010
Dear OGIS,
I am contacting you for assistance with a recent request I made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the CIA which was assigned FOIA log numbers F-2011-00214 and F-2011-00336.
On October 14, 2010 I submitted a FOIA request to the CIA for "All records responsive to a keyword search of the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system for 'New World Translation.'"
In a letter dated November 12, 2010, Scott Koch denied my request because "The ARCINS system is no longer operational and cannot be searched. Therefore we are unable to assist you with your request."
I appealed this denial on November 29, 2010 explaining that "I understand the ARCINS system is no longer operational and cannot be searched, which is why I requested a search of 'the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system.'"
In a letter dated December 8, 2010 from Susan Viscuso of the CIA, I was informed that the CIA will not process my appeal, as they believe I do not have appeal rights according to their agency regulations. The CIA issued a second letter also dated December 8, 2010 having a new FOIA Log number (F-2011-00336) in response to my appeal where they state This request was denied for two reasons:
1) "the breadth and lack of specificity of [my] request" and
2) "the way in which [your] record systems are configured"
In regard to the first item, my request was specific and provided enough information to conduct a search. I requested the records responsive to a keyword search in a specific database. In regard to the second item, the way in which your record systems are configured have no bearing on the applicability of the FOIA to those records. Nothing in the CIA regulations nor the FOIA permit the use of a specific record system configuration to prevent the search for records under the FOIA. In fact, the CIA frequently uses this excuse to avoid FOIA compliance, a practice that I hope will be discontinued as the result of OGIS mediation.
I understand that your office provides mediation services for FOIA requests such as mine. I look forward to hearing from your office about how this disagreement can be mediated. I can be contacted at the e-mail address below.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, I hereby authorize the Office of Government Information Services to make inquiries on my behalf, including the right to review all documentation that OGIS deems necessary in connection with my request for assistance regarding the Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act request/administrative appeal that I have referenced above. I understand that any documents I provide to OGIS may be copied and forwarded to officials of the referenced agency as a part of the mediation/resolution process. I also authorize any Federal department, agency or component to release to OGIS information and records related to my Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act request/administrative
appeal. Electronic signature follows.
Signed,
/Jason Smathers/
Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143
Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com
From: OGIS
Jason,
Thanks again for your time on the phone this afternoon to discuss the seven different requests you brought to us related to the CIA and the related dispute over appeal rights.
As we discussed, the appeal rights issue is one that OGIS plans to discuss with the agency going forward. We anticipate it to be a longer process and something we will spend time on in relation to other bigger issues that have come up with the agency.
For now, though, we can try to provide some assistance with the specific requests and your attempts to receive the information you are seeking. I know we walked through each of the seven requests on the phone, but I am going to include a brief synopsis of what I learned from the CIA so you can refer to it here.
A few requests referred to the ARCINS database. No. F-2011-00274 pertained to “Sharia” information. Nos. F-2011-00214 and 00336 pertained to “New World Translation” information. No. 2011-00215 pertained to “International Mission Board” information. For each of these, the CIA explained that the information that was once part of the ARCINS database has migrated to other places but does not contain any tag or other denotation that it was once part of ARCINS – there is no way to search for former ARCINS data. The CIA suggested removing the ARCINS limitation and just asking for the specific information but so as to avoid overbroad requests, to specify for each what exactly you are looking for, such as a region, topic or time period. For the IMB, you should state who runs it or which one you are referring to. You will need to give more context for each of these.
A few other requests referred to the CIA’s intranet site PISAP. No. F-2011-00339 asked for a copy of the pageview of the PISAP web site and copies of every page visited within two clicks of that. The CIA said that resulted in thousands and thousands of pages and was too burdensome. They suggested that you specify the subject of the pages you would like. No. F-2011-00092 asked for an index, catalog or log of organizations; the CIA cannot search for indices or databases but suggested asking for reports/documents on the topic and/or region at issue and to specify the time period for the organizations you're seeking information about. No. F-2011-00104 requested documents that describe the use of databases used by analysts. The CIA said if they knew what you were looking for, they might suggest a way to word it; they tried a bunch of searches and nothing came up. You gave me more information on this which I will provide to the CIA and get back to you on.
Finally, No. F-2011-00274 asked for a copy of the “Holy Fighter book” which the agency said it does not have. It said the Army would have this and that it provided you with the information on where to request this from the Army.
As we discussed, I will get back to you on the CIA's suggested wording for the information you sought in request No. F-2011-00104; OGIS will continue working on the broader appeal issue with the CIA; and OGIS will close this case. If you find that you run into any problems making your re-requests for any of this information, you can always get back in touch with me and we'll reopen the matter and try to help out then.
Thanks for your patience as it took awhile to work through all of this. I will be in touch to follow up on the remaining issue as soon as I have more.
Corinna
--------------------------------
Corinna Zarek
Attorney Advisor
Office of Government
Information Services
8601 Adelphi Rd., Rm. 2510
College Park, MD 20740
Dir: 301.837.3788
Main: 301.837.1996
Fax: 301.837.0348
www.archives.gov/ogis
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 17, 2010. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Central Intelligence Agency
The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.
From: Central Intelligence Agency
The request has been rejected as being too vague, burdensome or otherwise unprocessable.
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