Private use of social media advice provided to employees

James Smith made this Freedom of Information request to WA Department of Regional Development as part of a batch sent to 204 authorities

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear WA Department of Regional Development,

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

I request documents related to the ten most recent instances where an employee has sought information, advice, guidance, or opinion on their social media use in a private capacity.

I limit the scope of documents to:
- the original request from the employee
- the agency/department's response
- any follow-up questions and response
- only those sent to a relevant HR / conduct / social media (or similar) team (rather than managers across all areas of the organisation)
- where the original request was created in the last 2 years

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

James Smith

DRDMPS, WA Department of Regional Development

Hello James

 

I apologise for the delay, however I wanted to confirm if the Department
of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Regional Development) held
the type of information you are seeking.

 

Before creating a network account, staff within the Department are
requested to sign an acknowledgement form confirming that he/she have read
and understood the policies around Internet Use and Management, Email Use
and Management, ICT system secure policy and social media use and
management policy.

 

The Social Media policy is designed to provide the appropriate framework
for user's publishing social media.  The policy applies both to

 

·         The use of social media by authorised users of DPIRD ICT systems
for business use; and

·         Personal use of social media by users whether accessed using
DPIRD ICT systems or not.

 

The policy states in relation to the use of social media for personal
purposes.

 

Publishing Social Media for Personal Purposes

 

4.   DRD recognises users may wish to use social media personally
and this  policy  does  not  intend  to  discourage  or  unduly  limit
 users

 

personal expression or online activities. However, when publishing
social media for personal purposes, whether using DRD ICT Systems
or not, users should:

 

a.   not publish social media on behalf of their department, nor
to speak on  its behalf or imply that they are authorised to
speak on its behalf, unless authorised to do so.

 

b.   be aware that social media is in the public domain and
that their obligations under the Western Australian Public Sector
Code of Ethics and the DRD Code of Conduct still apply.

 

c.   only  publish  departmental  information  which  is  publicly
available  and  do so in a manner which is accurate and not
misleading, exercising proper courtesy and consideration.

 

d.   make it  clear  that  any  published  content  relating to  their
departmental  role or   departmental activities is not official:
users should be open and transparent, expressly stating that
their views or opinions are their own and not those of their
department.

 

e.   ensure that views expressed do not compromise or give a
perception  of  compromising their capacity to perform their
professional role in an unbiased manner.

 

f.    not  publish  content  that  might  cause  damage  to  their

department’s reputation or bring it into disrepute.

 

g.   not    use    their    departmental    email    address    or    the

department’s social media pages.

 

h.   not use the identity or likeness of another user.

 

i.    not publish material that is offensive, obscene, defamatory,
threatening,    harassing,   bullying,   discriminatory,   hateful,
racist, sexist, infringes copyright, or is otherwise unlawful.

 

 

Please note that the Department does not hold the information you have
requested in your Freedom of Information application. On that basis, could
you please confirm you are comfortable with the information provided
above, noting that the Department does not hold such records and are happy
to withdraw your application.

 

I am happy to discuss should this be required.

 

Kind regards

 

Di

 

 

Diane Biletic  | Manager

Ministerial Services

Regional Development

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Level 12, 140 William Street  |  Perth WA 6000

t (08) 6552 2061  |  f 6552 1850  |  m 0429 119 711  |  w dpird.wa.gov.au

 

 

 

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