Background

Through Public Records Request PRR R006188-081725, I received partial records identifying some City-managed social-media accounts, a PDF listing certain blocked users, and the Ontario Police Department’s Social Media Policy (Policy 389) and Ontario Fire Department’s Social Media Policy (Policy 719).

However, these materials appear incomplete. The blocked-user PDF does not include all accounts that may have been restricted, nor does it clarify whether multiple accounts may belong to or be attributed to the same person. This leaves open the possibility that additional blocked accounts exist that were not captured. Additionally, several of the City’s social-media accounts’ blocked-user lists have not been produced in a timely manner by the public records department.

Both the Police and Fire Department policies were produced in this same records request, and neither includes any written procedure, authorization, or criteria for blocking or restricting members of the public. They also do not describe whether a member of the public has any right to appeal or regain access to an official City forum.

Because these accounts are operated by City employees and used for official communication funded by taxpayers, the lack of clear written authorization and due process raises significant concerns about fairness, access, and constitutional transparency.

Request 1: Official Statement and Policy Clarification

Please provide an official written statement and public comment from the City of Ontario addressing the following questions:

1. A. Official Capacity and Authority
   Are the City’s social-media accounts (for example, @CityOfOntarioHR) managed by employees acting in their official roles as representatives of the City, or are they operated in a personal capacity? Who has the administrative control or decision-making authority to block, mute, or restrict members of the public on these accounts?
2. B. Written Policy and Oversight
   If employees are authorized to restrict users, what written policy, procedure, or authorization allows them to do so? What oversight exists to ensure these actions are documented, reviewed, and compliant with City standards?
3. C. Appeal and Access Restoration
   If a member of the public has been blocked or restricted, is there any process for them to be notified, appeal the decision, or regain access to official City accounts? If not, does the City plan to establish one?
4. D. Policy Review and Transparency Commitment
   Will the City review its current social-media policies to include specific standards for when and how a user can be restricted, a public appeal process, and recordkeeping for all moderation activity?
5. E. Constitutional and Legal Context
   Given that these accounts are operated as official communication tools of the City, does the City recognize that blocking members of the public from viewing or engaging with official government communications raises First Amendment and public-access concerns? Please provide the City’s official position on this issue.

Request 2: Digital Record Production and Monthly Reporting

The PDF files produced under PRR R006188-081725 do not provide a full or verifiable list of all blocked or restricted accounts. They also do not confirm when multiple accounts may be linked to one individual.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, the City should obtain digital exports (such as CSV or Excel files) directly from each platform’s administrative tools. These records can be requested through the support or compliance channels of each provider (Meta, X Corp, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, Truth Social, etc.).

Beginning December 2025, I will submit monthly Public Records Requests seeking updated digital lists of all blocked, muted, or restricted accounts across every City-operated social-media platform.

To prepare for this ongoing process, I respectfully ask that the City:

• Contact each platform’s support or compliance team to confirm how to export a complete list of blocked or restricted users in a digital format;
• Maintain those exports as public records consistent with the City’s retention schedule; and
• Create a recurring reporting process to make this information available to the public, ensuring transparency about who is being permitted—or excluded—from participation in taxpayer-funded communication channels.

The public deserves to know who can engage with their government and who is being restricted from doing so.

Response Timeline

Please provide your official statement and response no later than November 26, 2025.

Respectfully,

Brad Neumann, MBA, CIA
Former City Auditor, City of Ontario
AuditorNeumann.com

Signed: 11/12/2025