In North Carolina, the Digital Records Law is not a specific law in itself, but is applied through the North Carolina Public Records Law. This law establishes the rights of access to public records, including those in digital format, and the obligations of government agencies to allow the review and copying of these documents.
Drafting:
Public Records Law:
This law, which can be consulted at The North Carolina Judicial Branch (.gov), defines "public records" as any document or material received by a government agency during a public transaction, which includes audio recordings, films, and photographs.
Access and Copies:
Any person has the right to examine and photocopy public records, and agencies must allow it, even if the documents are in digital format.
Agencies' Obligations:
Agencies must provide access to the records at "reasonable times" and under supervision. If the agency can provide copies in different formats (such as digital), applicants can request copies in any of them.
Charges:
Agencies may not charge for the examination of records, but they can charge fees for copies, especially if photocopying or digitizing requires extensive effort.
Preservation of Information:
Government agencies also have the responsibility to preserve the integrity and accessibility of digital documents in the long term.