One of Canberra's largest workplaces, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, issued staff with its first social media policy yesterday.
It advises them how to behave while using blogs and online networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and when they are in virtual worlds such as Second Life.
Among the advice to bureaucrats is a warning against telling others where they work, even when they are using the internet at home for personal purposes.
The department warns staff that what they write ''can be used as source material for journalists and other interested parties''.
''Consider carefully whether you should identify yourself as an [Australian Public Service] employee or an employee of the department,'' the policy says.
''Do not risk any liability for the department by providing online recommendations or referrals for friends and or associates.''
It also says, ''Do not post photos of colleagues or friends online without their permission.''
The department's secretary, Andrew Metcalfe, said yesterday staff must uphold the public service's code of conduct regardless of whether they were at work.
''The new [policy] recognises the widespread influence that blogs and wikis have within the community, and that of course includes our staff, whom we want be alert to the potential risks of identity fraud and other threats.''
A report by the Government 2.0 Taskforce, published in December last year, urged bureaucrats to use online media to engage the public in debates about how to improve policies and services.
E-government blogger Craig Thomler estimated this month that more than 150 government agencies in Australia now had Twitter accounts.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Markus Mannheim
Quelle/Source: The Canberra Times, 13.04.2010
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
