In recent weeks, several citizens of Chattooga County have voiced their concerns regarding the abrupt disappearance of the county government’s official social media account from Facebook following the departure of the previous commissioner. This has sparked a conversation about transparency and the importance of maintaining accessible public records in the digital age.

According to Georgia law, social media pages created by governmental officials are considered part of the official public record. The Georgia Open Records Act governs the management of such records, mandating that government agencies preserve public documents, including “computer-based or generated information.” This includes various forms of electronic communication, such as emails, text messages, and social media posts. The Open Records Act defines “public record” broadly, encompassing all documents, data, and materials prepared, maintained, or received by an agency. This stipulation extends to social media records, clearly designating them as public records subject to legal oversight. The importance of these records has been underscored by guidelines issued by the State Attorney General of Georgia, which reaffirm that “computer records” fall within the parameters of public records as outlined by the law. This clarity has raised questions among residents about the accountability and accessibility of government communications through social media platforms.

In response to the concerns, current Commissioner Andy Allen has stated his intentions to utilize the county Emergency Management Agency’s social media page alongside local media outlets to disseminate information to the public during emergencies. Allen emphasized the importance of keeping residents informed and engaged, especially in critical situations.  Commissioner Allen stated, “We are going through the process to get the commissioner’s office back on Facebook.  But government pages have a few more hoops to jump through”.  Allen added, “Anything my administration builds belongs to the county and will remain county property after I am gone”. 

As the discussion continues, residents are calling for greater transparency in how the county manages its social media presence and public records. The hope is that moving forward, the county government will take steps to ensure that such essential communication channels remain open and accessible for all citizens of Chattooga County.