Here’s the problem. If the IRS did stupid things, like editing, some of the recipients might have kept paper copies. I know if I got an email that seemed to be asking me about something illegal or unethical I printed it and kept a copy. It is now normal corporate procedure to permanently erase emails after x days. I’m shocked they kept them.
> is now normal corporate procedure to permanently erase emails after x days.
This has not been my experience.
I have worked for four $1bn+ hi-tech corporations, and we are required to keep every project-related, and policy-related email. Just to be sure, IT backs everything up periodically and puts it into long-term storage.
This practice has spared the corp from patent and copyright challenges, and has provided evidence in its challenges, on several occasions.
Government rules are different than corporate.