{
 "topic": "FOIA section 7(1)(o) - Data-processing/IT security information",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/7(1)(o)",
 "family": "FOIA exemptions (section 7)",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-o/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 1,
  "no_violation": 3,
  "no_determination": 0,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": null,
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Denial of ALPR user guide under section 7(1)(o)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "User guides are per se exempt under section 7(1)(o) as administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, so no security showing is required.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "ALPR system user guide for in-car use",
    "date": "2025-03-25",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82383/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chapman v. Chicago Department of Finance, 2023 IL 128300",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2022%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20200547/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Southern Illinoisan v. Illinois Dep't of Public Health, 218 Ill. 2d 390 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401 (1997)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Embedded cost table exempt as software under section 7(1)(o)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Information embedded in software is part of the software and is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(o) of FOIA.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A proprietary cost table in assessment software",
    "date": "2025-03-03",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84329/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chapman v. Chicago Department of Finance, 2023 IL 128300",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2022%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20200547/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of internal meeting hyperlinks",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must show more than a possibility of a security threat; conclusory assertions that meeting links could enable hacking are insufficient.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Athletic department correspondence with an NIL group",
    "date": "2024-11-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80318/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Chapman v. Chicago Department of Finance, 2022 IL App (1st) 200547, ¶ 36",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2022%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20200547/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 35815, at 3, issued September 10, 2018",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 42825, at 3, issued July 26, 2016",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Section 7(1)(o) exemption for AIRA manual",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "AIRA manual contains technical and administrative automated data processing information whose disclosure would jeopardize system security.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police case reports and an internal software manual",
    "date": "2018-05-07",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51718/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  }
 ]
}