Massachusetts FOIA Flap

Massachusetts has alerted a website operator that he could face jail time for failing to take down data released to him through a freedom of information request.

According to a Thursday report in The Boston Globe, Massachusetts' Department of Transitional Assistance sent Michael Morisy, cofounder of MuckRock.com, a website devoted to open records, a letter earlier this week warning him failure to remove the data could result in fines or imprisonment.

The acting general counsel of DTA told Morisy the agency released the information -- which concerns how much money in food stamps has been spent at Massachusetts businesses over the past five years -- erroneously. She said she was not threatening him, but alerting him of possible ramifications, as told to her by the Agriculture Department, Boston.com reported.

Morisy has consulted with an attorney and it is unclear what action the state might or might not take. The data remains on the website.