I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has developed a policy for the information and advice of staff and others engaged on behalf of my Department who use social media in a personal capacity in so far as such personal usage relates to the Department and social occasions resulting from connection to the Department. This policy document is available for the information of all Department staff and all new staff are provided with a copy of the policy document on joining the Department.
In addition, any person having access to my Department’s information assets are reminded of their legal obligations under the Official Secrets Act, Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation on the use and safeguarding of this information.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not imposed any formal sanctions in respect of social media output by my staff in the past ten years to date and only a very small number of cases have occurred where staff were provided with individual advice on the use of social media.
Social networking sites are restricted across my network, however staff who require access to them for official purposes may achieve an exemption upon foot of an approved business case. The application referred to is available for use and download on Departmental issued mobile phones, however the mobile is remotely managed and Departmental data is stored within a secure area of the phone that third party applications cannot access.
