Auditing and testing of artificial intelligence FOIA programs
| Tracking # |
F-2025-07749 |
| Submitted | Jan. 6, 2025 |
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Communications
From: Dillon Bergin
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
All trust or safety assessments and internal audits of the artificial intelligence programs described in the State Department's 2024 Chief FOIA Officer report (https://foia.state.gov/Learn/Reports/Officer/2024.pdf), including the declassification pilot program and the efforts, as described by the Department, "to identify similar FOIA requests, conduct searches of the Department’s centralized databases for potentially responsive records, and improve the public website including customer experience for site visitors," which the Department states are "in pilot stages."
A recent reported titled "Artificial Intelligence Strategy: Empowering Diplomacy through Responsible AI" (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Department-of-State-Enterprise-Artificial-Intelligence-Strategy.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH0IaRuuGKAxW6w_ACHQZNDCsQFnoECAcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0asR7_b3bnWjpG_Ns3VAeE) states that "Regular safety and trustworthy assessments and internal audits will be required to manage risks" of the Department's AI strategy.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Dillon Bergin
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Dillon Bergin,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2025-07749 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To learn more, you may log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL at https://pal.foia.state.gov.
If that status is "On Hold", please review the email you received and provide the requested information. If you did not receive an email, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center via email at FOIAStatus@state.gov. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
If that status is "Closed" or "Documents Delivered", then the Department's response will be emailed or mailed (via US Postal Service). Please check your email account (including junk/spam mail) for the Department's response OR allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the Department's response by US Postal Service mail.
Regards,
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Dillon Bergin:
This acknowledges you information access request to the U.S. Department of State. Your request number is F-2025-07749. You will find additional information such as the date your request was received and your request status in your electronic portal page under this case number.
If you requested expedited processing, a fee waiver, or if unusual circumstances apply, you will receive additional correspondence from us.
For further assistance or to discuss any aspect of your request, you may contact our FOIA Requester Service Center or our FOIA Public Liaison via email to FOIAStatus@state.gov or by telephone at (202) 261-8484. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
Regards,
Office of Information Access Liaison
Information Access Programs
U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
**THIS EMAIL BOXIS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.**
ReferenceNo: F-2025-07749
Request Description: request for all trust or safety assessments andinternal audits of the artificial intelligence programs described in the StateDepartment's 2024 Chief FOIA Officer report(https://foia.state.gov/Learn/Reports/Officer/2024.pdf), including thedeclassification pilot program and the efforts, as described by the Department,"to identify similar FOIA requests, conduct searches of the Department’scentralized databases for potentially responsive records, and improve thepublic website including customer experience for site visitors," which theDepartment states are "in pilot stages."
Mr. Bergin: Thisemail acknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C.§ 552) request received by the U.S. Department of State, Office of SharesKnowledge Services on January 8, 2025 seeking the above referenced records. Acopy of your request is attached for your reference. This Office assignedyour request the subject reference number and placed it in the complexprocessing track where it will be processed as quickly as possible. (See 22 CFR§ 171.1(h)) ThisOffice will not be able to respond within the 20 days provided by the statutedue to “unusual circumstances.” See 5 U.S.C. §552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). In this instance, the unusual circumstancesinclude the need to search for and collect requested records from otherDepartment offices or Foreign Service posts. Please be advised, unless youadvise otherwise, we will treat as non-responsive any compilations of publiclyavailable news reports and any publicly available documents not created by theU.S. government, such as mass-distribution emails from news media. Ifyou have any questions regarding your request, would like to narrowthe scope or arrange an alternative time frame to speed its processing, orwould like an estimated date of completion, you may also contact our FOIA RequesterService Center or our FOIA Public Liaison by email at FOIAstatus@state.gov or telephone at202-261-8484. (mailto:FOIAstatus@state.gov) Additionally,you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at theNational Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIAmediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS isas follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives andRecords Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland20740-6001, email at ogis@nara.gov ; telephoneat 202-741-5770 or toll free at 1-877-684-6448. (mailto:ogis@nara.gov) Sincerely, Alexandra (for) EnnelleDebrosse SupervisoryGovernment Information Specialist FOIACase Processing Office **THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.**
From: U.S. Department of State
Reference No: F-2025-07749
Request Description: Dear Mr. Bergin, request for all trust or safety assessments and internal audits of the artificial intelligence programs described in the State Department's 2024 Chief FOIA Officer report (https://foia.state.gov/Learn/Reports/Officer/2024.pdf), including the declassification pilot program and the efforts, as described by the Department, "to identify similar FOIA requests, conduct searches of the Department’s centralized databases for potentially responsive records, and improve the public website including customer experience for site visitors," which the Department states are "in pilot stages." (Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2013 To 1/8/2025)
Please see the attached letter regarding your U.S. Department of State FOIA request referenced above. Should you have any difficulties opening the letter please email FOIAstatus@state.gov with your request number in the subject line.
Sincerely,
Alexandra
(for) Ennelle Debrosse Supervisory Government Information Specialist FOIA Case Processing Office
From: U.S. Department of State
Dear Dillon Bergin,
The status of your FOIA request #F-2025-07749 has been updated to the following status 'Closed'. To learn more, you may log into the DoS FOIA Portal via the Application URL at https://pal.foia.state.gov.
If that status is "On Hold", please review the email you received and provide the requested information. If you did not receive an email, please contact the FOIA Requester Service Center via email at FOIAStatus@state.gov. (mailto:FOIAStatus@state.gov)
If that status is "Closed" or "Documents Delivered", then the Department's response will be emailed or mailed (via US Postal Service). Please check your email account (including junk/spam mail) for the Department's response OR allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the Department's response by US Postal Service mail.
Regards,
U.S. Department of State