Confusion reigns as US government e-records disappear

While US federal law requires retention of electronic records, including email, government employees don't appear to understand their obligations. Widespread violations of federal record-keeping requirements have been uncovered. Many employees do not seem to understand what a record is, "much less how it must be preserved,” says Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group.

See, "In Digital Age, Federal Files Blip Into Oblivion," New York Times, Sept. 12, 2008, at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/13records.html?pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper.