May 4, 2018
Mr. Sundar Pichai, CEO
Google LLC
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
Mal Leary, President
MainePublic.org
Megan Rhyne, Vice President
Virginia Coalition for Open
Government
Mark Horvit, Treasurer
University of Missouri School of
Journalism
Deborah Fisher, Secretary
Tennessee Coalition for Open
Government
David Cuillier, Director
University of Arizona School of
Journalism
Katherine Garner, Vice President
KLGarner Consulting
Sarah Nordgren, Director
The Associated Press
Michael Morisy, Director
MuckRock
Colleen Murphy, Director
Connecticut Foundation for Open
Government
Barbara A. Petersen, Director
Florida First Amendment Foundation
Jeff Roberts, Director
Colorado Freedom of Information
Coalition
Justin Silverman, Director
New England First Amendment
Coalition
Thomas M. Susman, Director
Governmental Affairs Office, ABA

Dear Mr. Pichai:
The decision by Google to release a Gmail version that has the option for users to have
their emails “self-destruct” has serious unintended consequences.
As more local and state governments and their various agencies seek to use Gmail, there is
the potential that state public records laws will be circumvented by emails that “disappear”
after a period of time. The public’s fundamental right to transparency and openness by
their governments will be compromised.
Most states have clear record retention laws aimed at making sure the public has access to
government records, particularly records of how their tax money is spent and records of
electronic communiques between and among officials regarding public policy deliberation.
While existing laws may protect communications from government agencies, it will not
assure public access to emails by individuals and companies to government agencies. The
potential for abuse is astounding.
While there are few email platforms that have similar capacity, none even begin to
compare to the ubiquitous nature of Gmail. In 2009, Google launched “Google for the
Public Sector.” The company’s announcement touted “a one-stop shop of tools and tips
that local, state and federal government officials can use to help promote transparency and
increase citizen participation.”
Technology that allows the self-destruction of official, electronic public communications is
not promoting transparency, and under most state open government laws, is illegal. We
urge you take steps to assure the “self-destruct” feature be disabled on government Gmail
accounts and on emails directed to a government entity.
Thank you for your consideration,

Malcolm J. Leary
President, NFOIC Board of Directors
c: Flint Waters, Strategic Executive -State and Local Government
31 Neff Annex • University of Missouri • Columbia, MO 65211 • Columbia, MO 65211 • 573.882.4856 • nfoic.org • @nfoic