Instant messaging records are the subject of testimony Reinvent Albany delivered on September 22, 2026 to the New York City Council Committee on Governmental Operations, State and Federal Legislation. The group asked the Council to pass a bill making clear that any electronic communication that creates a public record must be archived and be retrievable by agency FOIL officers. It shared draft language, written with Citizens Union, that would amend the City Charter to define “instant electronic messages” as records, bar the use of auto-delete functions, and require the Department of Records and Information Services to issue a binding retention policy. The testimony says that even in 2026 the city has no practical way for FOIL officers to search messages sent through apps like Signal the way they can search city email. No records-retention bill was on the hearing agenda; the testimony also weighs in on four influencer-disclosure bills before the committee.
Read the full testimony: City Council Should Ensure NYC Electronic Messaging Complies with FOIL and Records Laws — Reinvent Albany, September 22, 2026.
Earlier on this blog: City Hall said Signal was allowed. Its own memo said otherwise. For how the state law applies to electronic records, see our Freedom of Information Law page.
