Cities can deny access to computer mapping systems under new statute

MISSOURI — Municipalities may deny access to specialized computer systems that correlate database information with geographic maps.

The statute, signed by the governor in mid- July, allows communities to set access rules for the computer systems, commonly known as Geographic Information Systems.

The systems, for example, can be used by politicians to sketch future district lines, or by private companies to target customers in a particular geographic location.

The law states that government agencies are not “required” to provide access to the systems, and each community may set its own terms and conditions.

Communities may charge fees covering distribution and developmental costs, in addition to actual costs, for information produced by the geographic database.

(To be codified as Mo. Rev. Stat.  67.319)

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