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Public commenter alleges unredacted Social Security numbers in FOIA response
Summary
A person identifying as an auditor with 'Illinois Accountability' told the Galesburg City Council that two residents' Social Security card numbers were returned in a FOIA response without redaction and called the disclosure 'not okay,' urging the council to address the issue.
An individual who identified himself as an auditor with "Illinois Accountability" told the Galesburg City Council during public comment that recent Freedom of Information Act requests produced improperly disclosed personal data.
"I got 2 citizens of Galesburg Social Security card numbers that didn't get redacted," the auditor said, calling the disclosure "not okay" and warning it "screams lawsuit to me." He said he had filed multiple FOIA requests and found records that either were withheld or returned with sensitive data unredacted.
Council members did not take immediate public action at the meeting; mayoral and staff remarks following the comment thanked speakers and moved on to the consent agenda. The commenter urged officials to correct procedures so that a resident who files a FOIA request will not be "screwed around" by a lack of clarity about redaction and access.
The comment provides a starting point for staff follow-up: the council did not announce an investigation or formal direction during the meeting. The auditor's allegations identify a specific procedural risk for the city (potential exposure of Social Security numbers) and, if verified, could trigger legal liabilities and a need to revise FOIA processing and redaction practices.
