Supreme court restricts online access to information.

Responding to growing concerns that private and confidential information may be widely distributed through the Internet and other electronic media, Florida Chief Justice Harry Lee Anstead has issued an order setting interim limits on what information can be electronically posted. He also created a committee to draw up final rules.

The order establishes a Committee on Privacy and Court Records to begin work on a uniform statewide policy to ensure that sensitive information is filtered out of court records before they are placed in media like the Interact and bulk electronic access systems, such as dial-in services.

"Current regulation of confidential information is minimal at best," Anstead said.

"Because it will take time to develop a uniform policy, I am directing that bulk electronic distribution of court records cease temporarily.

" However, I have provided for several exceptions, such as allowing the chief judges of the courts to authorize distribution of documents that have been properly screened and are of significant public interest."

The order tracks recommendations of two separate advisory bodies. An earlier report by the Florida Judicial Management Council had urged that the Court act to protect the public. Earlier this year a legislative group, the Study Committee on Public Records, reached essentially the same conclusion.

At the heart of these recommendations is the growing concern that information like Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial disclosures contained in court records can be used to commit crimes such as fraud or identity theft. Some of this information also may be confidential under state or federal law, but no uniform mechanism is now in place to see that it is removed before electronic distribution.

In an earlier report, the JMC noted that court clerks follow a variety of policies on making court records public, and most do not post records on the Internet. Those who do have different guidelines about what is or is not made electronically available.

"This inconsistency is itself a potential problem, because legal rights of privacy and access normally must be treated the same statewide," the court said in a press release announcing the administrative order. "One of the more common complaints from Florida residents involves the placement of divorce documents on electronic distribution networks. The JMC noted that these records commonly contain detailed and deeply personal information about the...