The SEC lost approximately a year of text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler after an automated mobile-device policy and a factory reset by the agency’s Office of Information Technology permanently erased messages between October 2022 and September 2023, potentially affecting FOIA responses.
What happened: An automated policy disabled texting and a factory reset erased data on Gensler’s government phone.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found OIT failed to back up nearly a year of messages, reported in January 2024.
Impact: The loss may complicate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses and prompted OIG recommendations to strengthen records management.
Meta description: SEC lost text messages: OIG finds nearly a year of Gary Gensler’s texts permanently erased; learn what happened and how FOIA responses may be affected.
What were the key findings of the OIG report?
SEC lost text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler due to a 2023 automated policy and a subsequent factory reset, which permanently deleted messages from October 2022 to September 2023. The OIG concluded OIT’s processes did not preserve federal records and issued recommendations to improve device and records management.
How did the data get erased?
Gensler discovered missing applications on his government-issued smartphone on Sept. 6, 2023. OIT personnel performed a factory reset consistent with a new, “poorly understood and automated” policy intended to disable texting. That reset permanently deleted the device’s data because backups had not been maintained for nearly a year.
Why does this matter for FOIA and records retention?
The erased text messages may be relevant to federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Without preserved records, the SEC could be unable to fully respond to certain FOIA requests. The OIG has issued recommendations aimed at strengthening controls over mobile devices and improving federal records management to reduce future risks.
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Gensler noticed missing apps on his device on Sept. 6, 2023, and OIT later acknowledged a factory reset erased data. In January 2024, OIT reported the erasure of messages sent between October 2022 and September 2023 to the Office of Inspector General, which then reviewed the incident.
The OIG recommended: (1) improved backup procedures for government-issued devices, (2) clearer policies and change management for automated device controls, and (3) enhanced oversight of the Office of Information Technology to ensure federal records are preserved. These measures aim to reduce the risk of future data loss and support FOIA compliance.
The OIG found messages sent and received on Gary Gensler’s government phone between October 2022 and September 2023 were permanently deleted after an automated policy and a factory reset by OIT.
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Source: https://en.coinotag.com/lost-sec-texts-from-gensler-could-hinder-foia-responses-oig-says/