An Arkansan’s right to view public records includes the right to take digital photographs of the documents, and city and county clerks don’t have the right to forbid the picture-taking.

That’s the state attorney general’s office’s reading of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act today in an opinion requested by state Rep. Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says FOI provisions that afford citizens the right to inspect and copy public records leave it to the individual’s disposal whether to do the copying by hand, with a camera or other mechanical device.

McDaniel says he’s not aware of any other state statute that would permit public record holders to preclude the inspection and photographing of public records available for disclosure.

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