Transparency questions have been raised as the State of Michigan has quickly deleted a number of chat conversations on Microsoft Teams platforms.

The chats are erased 30 days after they’re created, and Bridge Michigan reports that transparency advocates are worried that the policy obscures those communications. State officials, however, say the 30-day deletions are about data storage, not hiding information.

Freedom Of Information Act laws at the federal, state and local levels are in place to prevent corruption by allowing the public access to internal documents and communications, including how lobbyists interact with those in power, and how tax dollars are spent.