Paper
Policy Brief
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law Policy Brief
As technology reshapes how public officials communicate with their communities, this policy brief offers recommendations for modernizing Massachusetts Open Meeting Law to protect transparency and accountability while enabling the tools that expand access to government.
Issues
Open Meeting Law was designed to ensure that public deliberation remains visible and accountable to the people it serves. As public bodies and their members increasingly rely on technologies such as social media, remote meeting tools, and artificial intelligence, questions from local leaders about compliance with Open Meeting Law have arisen. This policy brief examines the areas where emerging technologies intersect with Open Meeting Law obligations and offers recommendations for modernizing regulation, guidance, and practice. As technology reshapes how public officials communicate and engage with their communities, the Open Meeting Law must evolve to address these emerging technologies while preserving transparency and accountability, or risk discouraging the use of innovative tools that can strengthen public engagement and access to government.
Download the PDF to read the full policy brief. This work builds on findings from The Landscape of Digital Civic Infrastructure in Massachusetts.
The Landscape of Digital Civic Infrastructure in Massachusetts
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