UNITED STATES OFFICE OF

GOVERNMENT ETHICS

*
April 9, 2015
LA-15-03
LEGAL ADVISORY
TO:

Designated Agency Ethics Officials

FROM:

David J. Apol
General Counsel

SUBJECT:

The Standards of Conduct as Applied to Personal Social Media Use

Use of social media has become prevalent among Federal executive branch employees
and agencies. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is aware that agency ethics officials
have an interest in understanding how the Stan dards of Ethical Conduct for Executive Branch
Employees (Standards of Conduct), 5 C.F.R. part 2635 , apply to the use of social media. This
interest is reflected in the increased volume of questions that OGE receives from various
agencies seeking advice in this area.
As an initial matter, the Standards of Conduct do not prohibit executive branch
employees from establishing and maintaining personal social media accounts. As in any other
context, however, employees must ensme that their social media activities comply with the
Standards of Conduct and other applicable laws, including agency supplemental regulations and
agency-specific policies. To assist employees and agency ethics officials in this endeavor, OGE
is providing the following guidance regarding issues that agency ethics official have frequently
raised concerning employees' obligations under the Standards of Conduct when using social
media. 1
1.

Use of Government Time and Property

When employees are on-duty, the Standards of Conduct require that they use official time
in an honest effort to pe1fo1m official duties. See 5 C.F.R. 2635.705. As a general matter, this
requirement limits the extent to which employees may access and use their personal social media
1

Employees should remain aware that other statutes and regulations outside of OGE's purview may further limit
their use of social media. For example, the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. 7321, et seq., limits the extent to which executive
branch employees may use social media to engage in ce1tain political activities. See U.S. Office of Special Counsel,
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Hatch Act and Social Media, April 4, 2012, available at:
https ://ethics.od.nih. gov/topics/Hatch-Act-and-Social-Media-2012 .pdf

1201 New York Avenue, NW, Su ite 500

www .oge.gov

I Wash in gton,

DC 20005

accounts while on duty. The Standards of Conduct also require employees to protect and
conserve government property and to use government property only to perform official duties,
unless they are authorized to use government property for other purposes. See 5 C.F.R.
2635.704. For example, under the Standards of Conduct, a supervisor may not order, or even
ask, a subordinate to work on the supervisors personal social media account. Coercing or
inducing a subordinate to maintain the supervisors personal account would amount to a misuse
of position and, if done on official time, a misuse of official time. The same would be true if the
supervisor were to have a subordinate create content for the supervisors personal account, even
if the subordinate were not involved in uploading the content to that account. 5 C.F.R.
2635.702(a), 2635.705(b).
Where agencies have established policies permitting limited personal use of government
resources by their employees, those policies control what constitutes an authorized use of
government resources. See, e.g. OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 97 x 3. In some cases, such
limited use policies may authorize employees to access their personal social media accounts
while on duty.
2.

Reference to Government Title or Position & Appearance of Official

Sanction

A question that frequently arises is the extent to which employees may reference their
official titles on their personal social media accounts. In general, the Standards of Conduct
prohibit employees from using their official titles, positions, or any authority associated with
their public offices for private gain. 5 C.F.R. 2635.702. The Standards of Conduct also require
that employees avoid using their titles or positions in any manner that would create an
appearance that the Government sanctions or endorses their activities or those of another.
5 C.F.R. 2635.702; 2635.807(b).2
Employees use of personal social media ordinarily will not create the impermissible
appearance of governmental sanction or endorsement which would be prohibited under
2635.702(b). An employee does not, for example, create the appearance of government
sanction merely by identifying his or her official title or position in an area of the personal social
media account designated for biographical information. See e.g. OGE Legal Advisory LA-14-08;
OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 10 x 1.
In evaluating whether a reference to an employees official title or position on social
media violates the Standards of Conduct, the agency ethics official must consider the totality of
the circumstances to determine whether a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts
would conclude that the government sanctions or endorses the communication. See, e.g. 5 C.F.R.
2635.702(b); 2635.807(b); OGE Legal Advisory LA-14-08; OGE Informal Advisory Opinion
10 x 1. Relevant factors for agency ethics officials to consider in making the determination
include:

Agency supplemental regulations may place further limitations on employees use of title or position, or may
impose additional requirements such as mandating the use of a disclaimer.

Whether the employee states that he or she is acting on behalf of the

government;

Whether the employee refers to his or her connection to the government as

support for the employees statements;

Whether the employee prominently features his or her agencys name,

seal, uniform or similar items on the employees social media account or
in connection with specific social media activities;

Whether the employee refers to his or her government employment, title,

or position in areas other than those designated for biographical
information;

Whether the employee holds a highly visible position in the Government,

such as a senior or political position, or is authorized to speak for the
Government as part of the employees official duties;

Whether other circumstances would lead a reasonable person to conclude

that the government sanctions or endorses the employees social media
activities; or

Whether other circumstances would lead a reasonable person to conclude

that the government does not sanction or endorse the employees social
media activities.

Ordinarily, an employee is not required to post a disclaimer disavowing government

sanction or endorsement on the employees personal social media account. Where confusion or
doubt is likely to arise regarding the personal nature of social media activities, employees are
encouraged to include a disclaimer clarifying that their social media communications reflect only
their personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of their agency or the United
States. A clear and conspicuous disclaimer will usually be sufficient to dispel any confusion that
arises. See OGE Legal Advisory LA-14-08.
3.

Recommending and Endorsing Others on Social Media

Social media networks, particularly those focused on job seeking, sometimes allow users
to recommend or endorse the skills of other users. The Standards of Conduct permit employees
to use social media to make such recommendations or endorsements in their personal capacity. It
is not a misuse of position for employees to provide such endorsements merely because they
have provided their official titles or positions in areas of their personal social media accounts that
are designated for biographical information.
OGE is aware that at least one social media service automatically adds a users name,
title, and employer to any recommendation that the user posts regarding a job seeker. In any such
case where title and employer name are added automatically, OGE does not consider a
3

recommendation to constitute a misuse of position because the recommendation is readily

understood by users of the social media service to be personal, rather than official, in nature. An
employee should not, however, affirmatively choose to include a reference to the employees
title, position, or employer in a recommendation, except where 5 C.F.R. 2635.702(b) expressly
permits such references.
4.

Seeking Employment Through Social Media

The basic provisions governing seeking employment are set out in subpart F of the
Standards of Conduct. For these purposes seeking employment includes not only the kinds of
bilateral employment negotiations that would implicate 18 U.S.C. 208, but also certain
unilateral expressions of interest in employment by the employee. Specifically, in addition to
actual negotiations, as described in section 2635.603(b)(1)(i), seeking employment also includes
unsolicited communications by the employee regarding possible employment, as described in
section 2635.603(b)(1)(ii), and any response by the employee, other than rejection, to an
unsolicited overture from a prospective employer, as described in section 2635.603(b)(1)(iii).
See OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 04 x 13.
Employees who are seeking or negotiating for employment through social media must
comply with the applicable disqualification requirements of 5 C.F.R. 2635.601, et seq.,
18 U.S.C. 208, and any additional requirements found in agency supplemental regulations.
Public financial disclosure filers who are negotiating or have an arrangement concerning future
employment or compensation also must comply with the notification requirements found in
section 17 of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012. See 5 U.S.C. app.
101, note; OGE Legal Advisories LA-13-06 and LA-12-01.
An employee is not considered to be seeking employment with any person or
organization merely because the employee has posted a resume or similar summary of
professional experience to the employees personal social media account. Likewise, an employee
is not considered to be seeking employment merely because a person or organization has viewed
the employees resume on that social media account or has sent an unsolicited message,
including one containing a job offer, to the employee. An employee who receives an unsolicited
message or job offer is seeking employment with the sender only if the employee responds to the
message and the employees response is anything other than a rejection. 5 C.F.R. 2635.603.
An employee will be considered to be seeking employment with a person or an
organization if the employee contacts that person or organization concerning future employment.
In the age of social media, there are a multitude of ways that an employee might contact a
prospective employer and thereby trigger the seeking employment rules. For example, an
employee would trigger the seeking employment rules by sending a message directly to the
organization, uploading a resume or application to the prospective employers social media
account for recruiting employees, or otherwise targeting the organization through a social media
communication.

5.

Disclosing Nonpublic Information

The Standards of Conduct prohibit employees from disclosing nonpublic information to

further their private interests or the private interests of others. See 5 C.F.R. 2635.703. This
prohibition applies without regard to the medium used for the unauthorized disclosure. In
addition to the Standards of Conduct, other statutes and regulations prohibit the disclosure of
specific categories of nonpublic information, such as classified or confidential information.
Employees must follow the rules regarding the disclosure of nonpublic information found in the
Standards of Conduct and all other applicable rules when using social media. The Standards of
Conduct generally do not prevent employees from discussing or sharing government information
that is publicly available. Employees may not, however, accept compensation for statements or
communications made over social media that relate to their official duties. See 5 C.F.R.
2635.807(a); 2635.703.
6.

Personal Fundraising

Employees may use personal social media accounts to fundraise for nonprofit charitable
organizations in a personal capacity, but they must comply with 5 C.F.R. 2635.808, the section
of the Standards of Conduct that covers fundraising. As a general rule, fundraising solicitations
over social media are permissible so long as the employee does not personally solicit funds
from a subordinate or a known prohibited source. See 5 C.F.R. 2635.808(c)(1).
Fundraising requests over social media are potentially visible to a wide audience of
followers and connections. An employee who posts or publishes a general fundraising
announcement or request over social media has not personally solicited any prohibited source
or subordinate merely because the employee is connected with the prohibited source or
subordinate through the social media network. The same is true even if the prohibited source or
subordinate views, comments on, or responds to the post. However, an employee may not
respond to inquiries posted by prohibited sources or subordinates in reference to the fundraising
request. Furthermore, an employee may not specifically reference, link to, or otherwise target a
subordinate or known prohibited source when fundraising over social media. An employee doing
so will be considered to have personally solicited that person in violation of 5 C.F.R.
2635.808(c)(1). See OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 93 x 19; OGE Informal Advisory
Opinion 93 x 8.
Additionally, employees may not use their official titles, positions, or authority associated
with their positions to further fundraising efforts. See 5 C.F.R. 2635.808(c)(2); OGE Informal
Advisory Opinion 96 x 2. Employees are not considered to have used their official titles,
positions, or authority associated with their positions to further fundraising efforts merely
because they have provided this information in areas of their personal social media accounts
designated for biographical information.
7.

Official Social Media Accounts

Many Federal agencies maintain one or more official social media accounts for use in
conducting official business. Subject to applicable legal authorities, each agency determines the
5

purposes for which its official accounts may be used. See, e.g. OGE Informal Advisory Opinions
93 x 6 and 93 x 24. When employees use these official accounts, they must do so in accordance
with applicable agency directives, regulations, and policies. See 5 C.F.R. 2635.704(a); OGE
Informal Advisory Opinion 97 x 3. Put simply, official accounts are for official purposes.
OGE encourages agencies to adopt policies indicating which employees are authorized to
access official accounts and defining the authorized uses for those accounts. Agency officials
responsible for social media accounts may wish to visit the General Services Administrations
online Federal Social Media Community of Practice and Social Media Registry at
http://www.digitalgov.gov/.
Additional Information
In light of the ever evolving nature of social media, the foregoing advice is not intended
to be comprehensive. OGE expects to issue additional guidance in the future addressing
questions outside the scope of this Legal Advisory. Designated Agency Ethics Officials with
questions regarding the application of the Standards of Conduct to social media may contact their
assigned OGE Desk Officers.

Office of Government Ethics

Privacy Impact Assessment for the
Use of Third-Party Websites and Applications

Ju)y 2016

Program Counsel Division

U.S. Office of Government Ethics

Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the
Use of Third-Party Websites and Applications
Provide copies of the signed PIA to OGE's Chief Information Security Officer and Privacy
Officer.

Name of Project/System: OGE Social Media and Website Analytics Accounts on ThirdParty Websites
Office: Program Counsel Division, U.S. Office of Government Ethics
A. CONTACT INFORMATION:
1) Who is the person completing this document? (Name, title, organization and
contact information).
Brandon Steele
Associate Counsel
Legal, External Affairs and Performance Branch
Program Counsel Division
basteele(@,oge.gov
(202) 482-9209
2) Who is the system owner? (Name, title, organization and contact information).
Ty Cooper
Chieflnformation Officer
[email protected]
(202) 482-9226
3) Who is the system manager for this system or application? (Name, title,
organization, and contact information).
Nelson Cabrera, Jr.
Assistant Director, Internal Operations
Internal Operations Division
[email protected]
(202) 482-9233

4) Who is the Chief Information Security Officer who reviewed this document?
(Name, organization, and contact information).
Ty Cooper
Chief Information Officer
[email protected]
(202) 482-9226

5) Who is the Privacy Officer who reviewed this document? (Name, organization,
and contact information).
Diana J. Veilleux
Chief, Legal, External Affairs and Performance Branch
Program Counsel Division
Diana. Vei [email protected]
(202) 482-9203

6) Who is the Reviewing Official? (According to OMB, this is the agency CIO or
other agency head designee, someone other than the official procuring the system or
the official who conducts the PIA).
Ty Cooper
Chief Information Officer
[email protected]
(202) 482-9226

B. SYSTEM APPLICATION/GENERAL INFORMATION:

1) Does this system contain any information about individuals?
No.

a. Is this information identifiable to the individual?

NIA

b. Is the information about individual members of the public?

NIA

c. Is the information about employees?

-NIA

2) What is the purpose of the system/application?

OGE maintains social media and website analytics accounts on third-party websites
("third-party accounts") to promote transparency, raise the visibility of the executive
branch ethics program and OGE, and improve the usability of OGE ' s website. Raising
the visibility of the executive branch ethics program and OGE are critical steps towards
building awareness of the systems in place to detect and resolve potential conflicts of
interest. Additionally, OGE uses third-party accounts to provide cost-effective online
training for ethics officials. This training provides ethics officials with the knowledge and
skills needed to carry out the duties of their positions. Lastly, OGE uses third-party
accounts to help analyze non-identifiable information about how visitors interact with
OGE' s website. This information is vital in continuously improving OGE' s website.
OGE uses its third-party accounts to inform its external audiences about the executive
branch ethics program and OGE, to provide ethics education and training for agency
ethics officials, and to direct users to OGE ' s official website or to contact OGE for more
information. Such use will generally not implicate PII outside of voluntary user
interaction with OGE. User interactions with OGE may include name, usemame, email
address, photos, images, videos, content of messages or postings, or other personal
information provided by the user. OGE may use this information to respond lo
comments or messages posted on or directed at OGE's third-party accounts. OGE does
not use its third-party social media or website analytics accounts to request, collect,
maintain, or record PII.
OGE also uses analytic technology to monitor 1) traffic directed to its website through
OGE' s third-party accounts and 2) engagement activities with OGE third-party pages,
such as the number of views, clicks on posted links, " likes," and " retweets;" and the
number of " followers," " friends," "subscribers," or similar connections. OGE uses this
information to learn about the reach of its external communications by analyzing the
number of users who visit OGE' s official website through links OGE posts on its thirdparty sites and to make its website and third-party accounts more useful to its external
audiences. No PII is provided to OGE through these measurement technologies.

3) What legal authority authorizes the purchase or development of this

system/application?
5 U.S.C. app. 402, Authority and Functions, Ethics in Government Act.
C. DATA in the SYSTEM:

1) What categories of individuals are covered in the system?

People interacting with OGE ' s website or third-pa11y social media accounts.

2) What are the sources of the information in the system?

In general, the source of information will depend on the third-party application. For most
social media applications, the information provided to OGE when a user voluntarily posts
to an OGE third-party social media application is limited to the username. Some thirdparty websites may also collect PII during the registration process. Depending on the
user' s privacy settings, any member of the public may be able to view a user's name,
username, and any other PII the user includes in his or her profile information, comments,
or posts. This information, however, is in no way retained or solicited by OGE.

a. Is the source of the information from the individual or is it taken from

another source? If not directly from the individual, then what other source?
If a user does interact with an OGE third-party account, the user' s name, username,
profile information, and the content of the messages or postings (including photos,
images, videos, and other personal information provided by the user) may become
available to OGE. Interactions include "following," "friending," "subscribing" to or
otherwise associating with an OGE third-party account; posting comments, videos, or
other content to an OGE page; exchanging messages; or participating in one of the
various services, such as a live video chat.
b. What federal agencies provide data for use in the system?
None.

c. What State and local agencies are providing data for use in the system?
None.

d. From what other third party sources will data be collected?

The third-party applications, such as Google Analytics.

e. What information will be collected from the employee and the public?
In general, OGE does not collect data through third-party social media applications.
Applications used for improving website perfonnance may capture data, but this data
is generic to the usage of the website and does not contain PII.
OGE does not "follow," "friend," "subscribe" to, or take similar actions to connect
its account with other user accounts, except for U.S. government entities or certain
international governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or state
government entities, within the ethics community. Furthermore, OGE does not use
its third-party social media or website analytics accounts to request, collect,
maintain, or record PII.

3) Accuracy, Timeliness, Reliability, and Completeness

a. How will data collected from sources other than OGE records be verified for
accuracy?

NIA
b. How will data be checked for completeness?

NIA
c. Is the data current? What steps or procedures are taken to ensure the data
is current and not out-of-date?

NIA
d. Are the data elements described in detail and documented?
All OGE third-party accounts are governed by OGE' s Policy for Official OGE
Social Media Accounts on Third-Party Websites. Additionally, OGE provides a
privacy statement, either in full text or through a hyperlink, on the profile page
of each of its third-party accounts. OGE periodically reviews the use of its
third-party accounts to ensure that such use complies with OGE' s policies and
all federal privacy, accessibility, information security, records management, and
other applicable laws, regulations, and guidance. 1

D. ATTRIBUTES OF THE DATA:

1) Is the use of the data both relevant and necessary to the purpose for which the
system is being designed?

NIA.

Insofar as social media applications are concerned, OGE does not collect data on
individual users. Applications used for improving website performance may capture
data, but this data is generic to the usage of the website and does not contain PU.

2) Will the system derive new data or create previously unavailable data about an
individual through aggregation from the information collected, and how will this
be maintained and filed?

No.

Guidance inc ludes, but is not limited to, Memorandum J'vf- 10-23: Guidance for Agency Use ofThirdParty Websires and Applicarions, Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, June 25.
20 l 0, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/tiles/omb/assets/memorancla 20 IO/ml 0-23 .pdf

3) Will the new data be placed in the individual's record?

NIA
4) Can the system make determinations about employees/the public that would not
be possible without the new data?

NIA
5) How will the new data be verified for relevance and accuracy?

NIA
6) If the data is being aggregated, what controls are in place to protect the data
from unauthorized access or use?

NIA
7) If data is being aggregated, are the proper controls remaining in place to protect
the data and prevent unauthorized access?

NIA
8) How will the data be retrieved? Does a personal identifier retrieve the data?

NIA
9) What kinds of reports can be produced on individuals? What will be the use of
these reports? Who will have access to them?
None.

10) What opportunities do individuals have to decline/refuse to provide information

(i.e., where providing information is voluntary) or to consent to particular uses
of the information (other than required or authorized uses), and how individuals
can grant consent.)
OGE does not request, collect, maintain, or record any PII about users made
available to OGE through its third-party social media accounts. Content posted on
OGE third-party accounts by other users may be retained independently by the thirdparty website and such retention period is governed by the tem1s of service
agreement of each third-party website.

E. MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS:

1) If the system is operated in more than one site, how will consistent use of the
system and data be maintained in all sites?

NIA
2) Is the data in the system covered by existing records disposition authority? If
yes, what are the retention periods of data in this system?
Under the Privacy Act, a system of records is a group of records from which
information is retrieved by the name of an individual, or by any number, symbol, or
other unique identifier assigned to that individual. OGE does not use its third-party
social media or website analytics accounts to request, collect, maintain, or record PU
and thus does not create a system of records.

3) What are the procedures for disposition of the data at the end of the retention
period? How long will the reports produced be kept? Where are the procedures
documented?

NIA
4) Is the system using technologies in ways that the OGE has not previously
employed (e.g., monitoring software, Smart Cards, Caller-ID)?
No.

5) How does the use of this technology affect public/employee privacy?

Many of the risks presented by third-party websites depend on how users decide to
use these websites.

6) Will this system provide the capability to identify, locate, and monitor
individuals? If yes, explain.
No.

7) 'W hat kinds of information are collected as a function of the monitoring of

individuals?

NIA
8) What controls will be used to prevent unauthorized monitoring?
OGE takes reasonable precautions to protect its third-party accounts and information
voluntarily submitted to OGE on a third-party website. OGE restricts access to its

third-party social media and website analytics accounts only to employees who have
received management approval to access the account to perform their official duties.
Access to OGE third-party accounts is limited to employees who administer those
accounts. OGE utilizes best practices for creating secure passwords for its third-party
accounts, and all such accounts are clearly identified as official OGE accounts.
Additionally, policies governing the creation of an OGE third-party account must be
reviewed by the agency's Chief Information Officer, Privacy Officer, and Records
Officer to ensure compliance with IT security-policy and procedures, federal privacy
laws, and federal records laws.

9) Under which Privacy Act systems of records notice does the system operate?
Provide number and name.
Under the Privacy Act, a system of records is a group of records from which
information is retrieved by the name of an individual, or by any number, symbol, or
other unique identifier assigned to that individual. OGE does not use its third-party
social media or website analytics accounts to request, collect, maintain, or record PII
and thus, does not create a system of records.

10) If the system is being modified, will the Privacy Act system of records notice
require amendment or revision? Explain.
NIA
F. ACCESS TO DATA:
1) Who will have access to the data in the system?
OGE restricts access to its third-party social media and website analytics accounts
only to employees who have received management approval to access the account to
perform their official duties. Access to OGE third-party accounts is limited to
employees who administer those accounts.

2) How is access to the data by a user determined? Are criteria, procedures,

controls, and responsibilities regarding access documented?
OGE restricts access to its third-party social media and website analytics accounts
only to employees who have received management approval to access the account to
perform their official duties. Access to OGE third-party accounts is limited to
employees who administer those accounts.

3) Will users have access to all data on the system or will the user's access be
restricted? Explain.
OGE restricts access to its third-party social media and website analytics accounts
only to employees who have received management approval to access the account to

perform their official duties. Access to OGE third-party accounts is limited to

employees who administer those accounts.

4) What controls are in place to prevent the misuse (e.g., unauthorized browsing) of
data by those having access?
OGE takes reasonable precautions to protect its third-party accounts and information
voluntarily submitted to OGE on a third-party website. OGE restricts access to its
third-party social media and website analytics accounts only to employees who have
received management approval to access the account to perform their official duties.
Access to OGE third-party accounts is limited to employees who administer those
accounts. OGE utilizes best practices for creating secure passwords for its third-party
accounts, and all such accounts are clearly identified as official OGE accounts.
Additionally, policies governing the creation of an OGE third-party account must be
reviewed by the agency's Chief Information Officer, Privacy Officer, and Records
Officer to ensure compliance with IT security policy and procedures, federal privacy
laws, and federal records laws.

5) Are contractors involved with the design and development of the system and will
they be involved with the maintenance of the system? If yes, were Privacy Act
contract clauses inserted in their contracts and other regulatory measures
addressed?

No.
6) Do other systems share data or have access to the data in the system? If yes,
explain.

No.
7) Who will be responsible for protecting the privacy rights of the public and
employees affected by the interface?
NIA

8) Will other agencies share data or have access to the data in this system (Federal,
State, or Local)?

No.
9) How will the data be used by the other agency?
NIA

10

10) Who is responsible for assuring proper use of the data?

NIA

See Attached Approval Page

11

The Following Officials Have Approved this Document

1)
_

1---1-(-'+-[_',_(Date)

Title: Assistant Director, Internal Operations

2) Chief Information Officer

.Jb,./~

....,
~
,,___,_v
_
(/_ _ _ _____ (Signature)

Or- 0 b - / .b1 (Date)

Name: Ty Cooper

Title: Chief Information Officer

3) Senior Agency Privacy- Officer

fi '{l;tljv
~ -

(Signature)

_1-./_,_
, _ f~_/_~_ _(Date)

Name: Diana Veilleux

Title: Chief, Legal, External Affairs and Performance Branch

12

MEMORANDUM
OGE Employees

TO:
FROM:

~alter M.

Shaub Jr.

Director

,b~

j(}ak#/

DATE:

January 17, 2014

SUBJECT:

OGE Policy for the Creation and Use of Official OGE Social Media Accounts on
Third-Party Websites

I.

Overview and Purpose

OGE is committed to expanding its external communication efforts to raise the visibility of the
executive branch ethics program generally and OGE's work in particular. These efforts will
promote greater understanding of the systems in place to detect and resolve conflicts of interest,
thereby increasing public confidence in the integrity of government programs and operations.
Social media accounts on third-party websites ("third-party accounts") provide an additional
avenue for OGE to inform, educate, and engage its external audiences. In addition, third-party
accounts can be used to provide cost-effective online training for ethics officials. This training
provides ethics officials with the knowledge and skills needed' to carry out the duties of their
positions.
This memorandum describes OGE's policies and procedures for the authorization and use of
official OGE third-party accounts.

II.

Applicability

This policy applies to all OGE employees acting in an official capacity when creating, using, or
managing an official OGE third-party account.
This policy does not apply to OGE employees using social media for personal use while using
government-owned office equipment; such use is covered by OGE's Policy on Limited Personal
Use of OGE Office Equipment. This policy also does not apply to OGE employees using social
media in their personal capacities; however, employees are always required to follow the
Standards of Ethical Conduct and other applicable laws and regulations (such as the Hatch Act).

III.

Definitions

"Social Media" is an umbrella term for forms of electronic communication through which users
create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.
1

These include social networking sites (such as Twitter and Facebook), video-sharing websites
(such as YouTube), biogs, and forums.
"Third-Party Website" refers to a website that is not exclusively operated or controlled by a
government entity.

IV.

Policy

a. All OGE third-party accounts, including profile content, must be approved in writing by
the Program Counsel prior to creating the account.
b. Prior to setting up an OGE third-party account, employees must consult with the agency
employee responsible for reviewing terms of service, the Privacy Officer, the Chief
Information Officer, the Records Officer, and any other agency employee with
responsibilities in ensuring compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations for
the use of a third-party account.
c. Where feasible, OGE third-party accounts should be identified by using OGE's full name
(U.S. Office of Government Ethics) and official logo, include a link to OGE's official
website (www.oge.gov), and include general contact information for OGE, such as
ContactOGEccv.o ge. gov and 202-482-93 00.
d. Links to a third-party account on OGE's official webpage, vvww.oge.gov, must be clearly
designated as a link to an outside webpage, such as using the icon for the third-party
website.
e. Prior to setting up an OGE third-party account, the account username, profile page
content, and associated email account must be approved by the Program Counsel or the
head of the branch or division determined by the Program Counsel to be responsible for
the third-party account. Third-party account passwords should be created by the
employee responsible for setting up and maintaining the third-party account (the account
manager).
f.

OGE third-party account passwords should follow best practices for password security.
The password should be unique to each third-party account OGE uses. Employees should
use due diligence to protect written passwords from unauthorized access.

g. When prompted to enter an account password, employees should check the URL to make
sure they are on the third-party website. If in doubt, employees should go directly to the
homepage for that third-party website in the browser.
h. Third-party account passwords may be shared only with those employees approved in
writing to have access to the account by the Program Counsel or by the head of the
branch or division determined by the Program Counsel to be responsible for the thirdparty account. Account access should be granted to a limited number of persons.

1.

The account manager must monitor the third-party account for updates to the third party
website's policies and terms of service. The account manager must consult with the
appropriate agency official to ensure any changes comply with federal law.

j.

All content posted on OGE third-party accounts must be reviewed and approved in
accordance with the policies set forth in the appendices listed in Section VI for each type
of third-party account.

k. When a third-party account "follows," "friends, "subscribes" to, or makes other similar
connections to another account, such action does not constitute an endorsement of that
account holder. However, OGE employees should be aware that such action could be
misconstrued by others to be an endorsement. Therefore, OGE third-party accounts may
not "follow," "friend," "subscribe" to, or similarly connect with other user accounts,
except for U.S. government entities as approved by the Program Counsel or by the head
of the branch or division determined by the Program Counsel to be responsible for the
third-party account.

1. No personally identifiable information (PII) may be requested, collected, or maintained

through OGE third-party accounts. Employees may review comments and messages
directed at OGE through the third-party website and may use information provided by the
user, including PII, to respond to the comment or message.
m. To the extent that a user posts or sends PII to OGE through its third-party accounts,
employees will use the minimum amount of information necessary to accomplish a
purpose authorized by statute, executive order, or regulation.
n. The above privacy policies listed at (1) and (m) must be reflected in a privacy statement
and made available, either in full text or through a link to the statement on OGE's official
website (www.oge.gov), on the profile page of each OGE third-party account. The
statement must also include the following:
1. the specific purpose of OGE's use of the third-party account;
2. a link to the privacy policy of the third-party website and an explanation that the
website is controlled or operated by a third party that is not governed by OGE's
privacy policies;
3. a statement explaining that all information provided to OGE through its account
may be available to the operator of the third-party website and other users; and
4. notice of the use of any web measurement and customization technology in
connection with the third-party account. 1
1

This notice must include the information required by Memorandum M-10-23: Guidance for Agency Use ofThirdParty Websites and Applications, at Attachment 3, Office of Management & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, June 25, 2010

o. All privacy statements must be reviewed by OGE's Privacy Officer.

p. To the extent that OGE third-party accounts are used to solicit comments and feedback,
the accounts may only be used to solicit general feedback, unless the collection of
information complies with the Paperwork Reduction Act and is approved by the Program
Counsel or the head of the branch or division determined by the Program Counsel to be
responsible for the third-party account. 2
q. In the event that information posted, received, or connected with an OGE third-party
account meets the definition of a record, as defined by 44 U.S.C. 3301 and
36 C.F.R. 1222.10, employees will adhere and conform to OGE's Records
Management Policy. If unsure about how best to comply, employees should contact and
work with the Records Management Officer.
r.

Employees using a third-party account on behalf of OGE are bound by the Standards of
Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. Part 2635, and other
applicable laws and regulations.

s. All content posted through a third-party account must follow all laws, regulations, and
executive orders, which includes but is not limited to copyright, trademark, and privacy
laws. Content posted through an OGE third-party account must comply with Section 508
of the American Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
t.

V.

Any use of web measurement and customization technologies in connection with OGE
third-party accounts must comply with OMB Memorandum M-10-22: Guidance for
Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies. 3 For OGE third-party
accounts that use bit.ly hyperlinks as a web measurement technology, the "bit.ly" account
may not be linked to the third-party account and the default settings for the "bit.ly"
account must be set to private.
Responsibilities

The Program Counsel is responsible for approving the creation and use of official OGE social
media accounts on third-party websites.
The Program Counsel Division is responsible for developing policies and procedures for the
use of third-party accounts.

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) does not apply to general solicitations and feedback requests on social media
sites, but surveys and specific, structured questions may create a federal record and be covered by the PRA. See
Memorandum for the Heads ofExecutive Departments and Agencies and Independent Regulatory Agencies, Office
of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, at 3-4, April 7, 2010.
3
Memorandum M-10-23: Guidance for Agency Use of Third-Party Websites and Applications, Office of
Management & Budget, Executive Office of the President, June 25, 2010

The Account Manager assists in setting up and maintaining the third-party account, posting
content to the third-party account, and monitoring for updates to the third-party website's
policies and terms of service.
The Chief Information Officer is responsible for completing any necessary security
assessments and reviewing OGE's third-party account policies and procedures to ensure
compliance with IT security policies and procedures.
The Privacy Officer is responsible for reviewing OGE's third-party account policies and
associated privacy impact assessments and privacy statements to ensure compliance with federal
privacy laws.
The Records Officer is responsible for reviewing OGE's third-party account policies to ensure
compliance with federal records laws.

VI.

Related Procedures, Standards, and Guidance

See the attached appendices for additional procedures, standards, and guidance for each type of
OGE social media account on a third-party website.
1. Appendix A: Twitter Policies, Procedures, and Guidance
2. Appendix B: YouTube Policies and Procedures
3. Appendix C: Google+ Policies and Procedures

Appendix A: Twitter Policies, Procedures, and Guidance

I.

Background

Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging site started in 2006 that has become
one of the top ten most visited Internet sites. 4 All 24 major agencies use Twitter, 5 as well as
agencies comparable in size to OGE.
OGE uses Twitter to promote transparency of executive branch decision making processes by
raising visibility of the executive branch ethics program. More specifically, OGE uses its Twitter
account to direct users to OGE's official website and to provide target audiences with the latest
news from OGE regarding executive branch ethics; links to OGE' s latest advisories, education
materials, program reviews, reports, and other updated information; updates on relevant ethics
legislation; general information about OGE and executive branch ethics; and important dates for
federal employees and ethics officials.

II.

Policies and Procedures

a. For security purposes, any Twitter account password should consist of at least 10
characters, including upper and lower case characters, numbers, and symbols.
b. All content posted through OGE's Twitter account must be approved by the Program
Counsel or the designated backup.
c. All content posted through Twitter that provides evidence of OGE's organization,
functions, policies, decisions, procedures, or operations6 or contains other substantive
information must also exist on OGE's official website (www.oge.gov) and include a
hyperlink to the information.
d. The account manager will respond to direct messages in Twitter requiring substantive
information by directing the sender to contact OGE through [email protected] or by
calling 202-482-9300.

III.

Guidance for Drafting Tweets

a. Tweets are limited to 140 characters or less, including spaces. Hyperlinks are shortened
to 20 characters, leaving 120 characters for text.

Twitter now has over 500 million registered users and handles over 1.6 billion searches a day. Twitter Turns Six,
Twitter.com, (March 21, 2012), http://blog.twitter.com/2012/03/twitter-tums-six.html; Statistic Summary for
Twitter.com, Alexia, (last viewed February 22, 2013) http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/twitter.com
5
The major federal agencies include all cabinet level agencies, EPA, GSA, NASA, NSF, OPM, SBA, SSA, and
USAID. U.S. Gov't Accountability Office, GA0-11-605, Social Media (2011).
6
See 36 C.F.R. 1222.14(b) (extra copies of documents preserved for convenience ofreference are considered nonrecord materials).

b. The purpose of a tweet is to catch the target audience's attention and direct them to
OGE's website and other executive branch ethics information. Tweets should be short
and succinct, but interesting enough to catch the reader's attention. Additionally, tweets
should use keywords, avoid covering multiple topics in one tweet (one tweet per story),
avoid excessive abbreviations, and should link directly to the information or document
upon which the tweet is based.
c. The tone of a tweet should be less formal and more conversational. Employees should
write tweets in plain English. Employees should keep tweets simple and use a hyperlink
to provide the reader with more details.
d. When applicable, a tweet should include a hashtag referencing a key term and should
include other key terms that match trending topics.
e. Tweets should be drafted in a manner that makes the content more accessible. 7
f.

In most circumstances, more than one tweet should be drafted for a given document,
website post, or topic. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. the tweet ~overs content containing more than one topic;
2. the information provided in the tweet is relevant to more than one type of
audience and can be written differently to target each audience;
3. the tweet addresses the release of an OGE report or document. 8

IV.

Managing Twitter Trends

a. Twitter accounts are most effective when posting tweets related to currently trending
issues and stories in the media and on Twitter. To best utilize Twitter, tweets should be
targeted towards trends related to executive branch ethics and include key words relating
to the trend.
b. Communication Outreach Group (COG) members will monitor replies to OGE tweets
and comments directed at OGE for trends and draft responsive tweets.
c. COG members will conduct regular searches of Twitter for trending topics and the use of
key terms such as, but not limited to, OGE, Office of Government Ethics, conflicts of
interest, STOCK Act, and 'financial disclosure. Based on these searches, COG members
will draft appropriate tweets and suggest tweets from other users to re-tweet.

HowTo.gov, Improving the Accessibility ofSocial Media in Government, General Services Administration
(November 19, 2013) http://wvv'w.howto.gov/social-media/using-social-media-in-government/in1provingaccessibilitv#tip-twitter
8
For example, the first tweet could announce that the report is released (linking to the report) and a second tweet
could contain an explanation of the report or document (linking to an OGE webpage that explains the report in
further depth).

d. COG members will run regular reports through AIMS for inquiries from the press,
Congress, federal employees, academia, and public citizens and draft responsive tweets
based on topics of interest.

V.

Responsibilities

All OGE employees are responsible for drafting tweets for all listserv messages, documents and
content to be posted to OGE's official website and external education and events for which the
employee is responsible.

COG is responsible for reviewing and revising submitted tweets; scheduling the release of
tweets; monitoring replies to OGE tweets, comments directed at OGE, and executive branch
ethics trends; drafting appropriate responsive tweets; and managing the overall communications
strategy for using (or making use of) Twitter.
The COG Program Manager is responsible for setting up the Twitter account, posting
scheduled tweets with the appropriate hyperlink, responding to direct messages, maintaining the
Twitter account, and monitoring for emails regarding Twitter policy and terms of service
updates.
The Program Counsel is responsible for reviewing and approving all content posted to Twitter,
including tweets.

Appendix B: YouTube Policies and Procedures

I.

Background

YouTube is a video-sharing website through which users can stream, upload, share, and view
videos. OGE uses Y ouTube to provide educational videos about executive branch ethics rules
and the executive branch ethics program and to contribute to the professional development of
executive branch agency ethics officials.

II.

Policies and Procedures

a. For security purposes, any OGE YouTube account password should include at least 10
characters, upper and lower case characters, numbers, and symbols.
b. All final videos or broadcasts must be approved by the Chief of the Legal, External
Affairs, and Performance Branch (LEAP) prior to being posted online. The Chief will
notify the Training Products Development Section (TPDS) when the videos have been
approved and are ready to be posted.
c. To the extent possible, YouTube settings should be set to not allow comments. Where not
possible, TPDS will monitor for comments and replies to OGE posts. OGE will not
respond directly to comments received via YouTube other than to direct the commenter
to responsive content on OGE's official website (www.oge.gov) or to direct the
commenter to contact OGE through ContactOGE(qJ,oge.gov or by calling 202-482-9300.
d. TPDS will create and edit the educational videos to be posted on OGE's YouTube
Channel. For webcasts, TPDS will set up and facilitate the webcast and edit the video for
final approval of the Chief of LEAP before posting the video to YouTube.
e. To comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, OGE will ensure that videos
loaded on YouTube are captioned or will include in the video description on the
YouTube channel a statement regarding how an individual may access or obtain a
captioned version of the video from OGE. OGE will take all other necessary steps to
comply with Section 508 requirements for videos and multimedia presentation as
summarized at http://www.howto.gov/web-content/accessibility/508-compliant-andaccessible-multimedia.
f.

III.

Multimedia presentations that provide evidence of OGE's organization, functions,

policies, decisions, procedures, or operations (including instructional materials for
executive branch agency ethics officials) are considered records and must be retained
according to OGE' s Approved Records Disposition Authorities and the General Records
Schedule.

Responsibilities

TPDS is responsible for setting up the YouTube account, posting approved videos, maintaining
9

the YouTube account, and monitoring for emails regarding YouTube policy and terms of service
updates.
The Chief of LEAP is responsible for reviewing and approving all content posted to YouTube.

10

Appendix C: Google+ Policies and Procedures

I.

'

Background

Google+ is an online social networking site through which users can share information, pictures,
and videos. Google+ also has a live video chatting feature called Google "Hangouts" that allows
a user to share documents, scratchpads, images, and YouTube videos with other users. It also
includes a feature for broadcasting live video conversations that are accessible to anyone with a
web browser. OGE uses Google+ to provide information about the executive branch ethics
program and to conduct training for executive branch ethics officials through the Google+
Hangouts feature.

II.

Policies and Procedures

a. For security purposes, any OGE Google+ account password should include at least 10
characters, upper and lower case characters, numbers, and symbols.
b. All content posted through OGE's Google+ account must be approved by the Chief of the
Legal, External Affairs, and Performance Branch (LEAP). For live video chats through
Google+ Hangouts, a proposed schedule of events with topic summaries must be
submitted in advance and approved before the event is hosted on Google+.
c. All content posted through Google+ that provides evidence of OGE's organization,
functions, policies, decisions, procedures, or operations9 or contains other substantive
information must also exist on OGE' s official website. and include a hyperlink to the
information.
d. To the extent possible, the Google+ account settings should be set to allow only OGE to
comment. Where not possible, the Training Products Development Section (TPDS) will
monitor for comments and replies to OGE posts. OGE will not respond directly to
comments received via Google+ other than to direct the commenter to responsive content
on OGE's official website (www.oge.gov) or OGE's pages on OMB Max
(www.max.omb.gov) or to direct the commenter to contact TPDS directly by email or
phone or to contact OGE through [email protected] or by calling 202-482-9300.
e. TPDS will respond to direct messages in Google+ by directing the commenter to
responsive content on OGE's official website (vvwvv.oge.gov) or OGE's pages on OMB
Max (www.max.omb.gov) or by directing the commenter to contact TPDS, Contact
OGE, or another OGE employee or group. 10

36 C.F.R. 1222.14(b) extra copies of documents preserved for convenience ofreference are considered non-record
materials.
1
For example, TPDS would direct press inquiries to the Press Officer and congressional inquiries to the Legislative
Team.

11

f.

OGE will ensure that all multimedia presentations created through Google+ Hangouts are
captioned. To the extent that live-captioning of the multimedia presentation creates an
undue burden, OGE will provide a captioned version of the presentation either by
subsequently posting the captioned presentation on YouTube or Max.gov or posting a
statement regarding how an individual may access or obtain a captioned version of the
presentation from OGE. OGE will take all other necessary steps to comply with Section
508 requirements for videos and multimedia presentation as summarized at
http://vv--v-..rw.howto.gov/web-content/accessibility/508-compliant-and-accessiblemultimedia.

g. Multimedia presentations created through Google+ Hangouts that provide evidence of

OGE's organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, or operations (including
instructional materials for ethics officials within the executive branch) are considered
records and must be retained according to OGE' s Approved Records Disposition
Authorities and the General Records Schedule.

III.

Responsibilities

TPDS is responsible for setting up Google+ accounts, posting approved content, monitoring for
message and comments directed at OGE through its Google+ accounts, monitoring for Google+
policy and terms of service updates, and otherwise maintaining the Google+ accounts.
The Chief of LEAP is responsible for reviewing and approving content posted to Google+.

12

USOGE I Third-Party Website Privacy Statement - Social Media

12130/2016
Open Government
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GOVERNMENT ETHICS

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Third-Party Website Privacy Statement - Social Media

OGE maintains official social media accounts on third-party websites ("third-party accounts") to promote transparency and raise the visibility of the
executive branch ethics program and OGE. Raising the visibility of the executive branch ethics program and OGE are critical steps towards building
awareness of the systems in place to detect and resolve potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, OGE uses third-party accounts to provide costeffective online training for ethics officials. This training provides ethics officials with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out the duties of their
positions.
Third-Party Website Security and Privacy Policies
User activity on third-party websites is governed by the security and privacy policies of the third-party website. Users of third-party websites often share
information with the general public, user community, and/or the third-party operating the third-party website. These actors may use this information in a
variety of ways. Consequently, users should review the privacy policies of the third-party website before using it and ensure that they understand how
this information may be used. Users should also adjust privacy settings on their accounts on any third-party website to match their preferences.
Information about each third-party website that OGE uses, including a link to the third-party website privacy policy, is provided below:

Twitter is a social networking website and its privacy policy ca n be found at http://twitter.com/privacy .
YouTube is a video sharing website and users do not have to register with YouTube to view videos posted by OGE. For users registered
with YouTube, please note that YouTube is a third-party site governed by a separate privacy policy that can be found at
http ://www.you tube.com/Uprivacy
Google+ is an online social networking website through wh ich users can share information, pictures, and videos. Google+ also has a live
video chatting feature called Google Hangouts that also allows a user to share documents, scratchpads, images, and?videos with other
users and includes a feature for broadcasting live video conve rsations that are access ble to anyone with a web browser. The privacy
policy for Google+ can be found at http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/

The information posted on or directed at OGE through OGE's third-party accounts is generally available to any users who are able to view OGE's profile
page. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, do not include your full name, date of birth, social security number, address, phone numbers,
email addresses, case numbers, or any other sensitive personal information in your comments or responses. This information may be archived
independently on, and retention of such information is governed by, the third-party website.
OGE Privacy Policy
OGE will not use its third-party accounts to: 1) actively seek personal information, 2) search for or by personal information, or 3) "follow," "friend,"
subscribe to, or take similar action to connect its account to other user accounts, except for U.S. government entities. To the extent a user posts or
sends personal information to OGE through its third-party accounts, OGE will use the minimum amount of information necessary to accomplish a
purpose authorized by statute, executive order, or regulation. OGE does not request, collect, maintain, or record personally identifiable information (Pll)
that users submit or publish when engaging with OGE through a third-party website.
OGE Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technology
OGE does use multi-session web measurement and customization technology to monitor traffic directed to its website through OGE's third-party
accounts; engagement activities with OGE third-party pages, such as the number of views, clicks on posted links, "likes" and "retweets;" and the number
of "followers," "friends," "subscribers," or similar connections to OGE's third-party accounts. OGE uses this information to learn about the reach of its
external communications by analyzing the number of users who visit OGE's official website through links OGE posts on it third-party sites and to make
its website and third-party accounts more useful to its external audiences. This techn ical data is retained for purposes of conducting an annual review of
OGE's effectiveness in meeting its goals to promote transparency of executive branch decision making processes by raising visibility of the executive
branch ethics program and to advance a strong uniform executive branch ethics program through ethics education. No Pll is provided to OGE through
this measurement technology and OGE is unable to identify an individual or track information about a user or a user's account as a result of OGE's use
of the measurement technology. Users may choose to visit OGE's official website (www.oge.gov) directly to access the information provided by OGE
through its third-party account or choose to disable the cookie feature on their browser to block the transfer of this technical data.
Privacy Impact Assessment

https:/frntpriaps02.oge.gov/web'OGE.nsfNVebsite%20Policies/E12EEB86ADB93D1585257EA60065582C?opendocument

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12/30/2016

USOGE|ThirdPartyWebsitePrivacyStatementSocialMedia

TheOGEprivacyimpactassessmentforOGE'suseofsocialmediaaccountsonthirdpartywebsitescanbeviewedhere.

U.S.OfficeofGovernmentEthics

1201NewYorkAvenue,N.W.Suite500

Washington,DC20005

OpenGovernment|InternationalResources|MediaResources|FormsLibrary|ContactUs
Twitter

RSS

YouTube

Google+

WebsitePolicies|PrivacyPolicy|FOIA&PrivacyAct|NoFEARActData|PerformanceandBudget|SiteIndex

intpriaps02.oge.gov

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COG Responsibilities

o Report on branch/division activities

o Serve as Monthly Lead
Lead the Tuesday meetings
Draft agendas
Monthly reports
Submit accomplishments for the month
Run weekly AIMS report
Report out on stats
o Track outreach
Twitter (Monthly) and Articles (Weekly)
Directors Notes (Bi-annually)
Website Stats (Quarterly)
Google+ & You Tube (Bi-annually)
Listserv Subscribers (Quarterly)
Stakeholder Chart (Quarterly)
AIMS Data (Quarterly) Speaker Requests
o Review stats and making recommendations (Quarterly)
o Draft Reports and Respond to Data Calls
Planned work (Quarterly)
6 month Report (Due to Mngmt by April 15 (Date depending on date of SOR))
Annual Report (Due to Mngmt by Mid-October)
Respond to Data Call for Planned Work and Accomplishments (June/July)
Update Accomplishments Log (Monthly)
o Maintain Governance Documents
Speaker process
Program Guide
o Maintain specific parts of OGEs homepage
Rotating Window
Banner Announcement
Identify content
Assign writer
Draft Content
Approval
Prepare post

 Post (determine when it should come down)

OGE News
Identify content
Assign writer
Draft content
Approval
Prepare for posting (identify if other post need to be taken down)
Post
Directors Notes
Schedule
Assigned
Written (Note, Tweet, Summary, Date, Subject Tags)
Prepare for Approval
Approval
Editor
Prepare for Posting
Posted
o Meltwater
Review media news and twitter for proactive outreach
o Twitter
Draft & Review Tweets
Collect standard monthly tweets
Control timing and spacing
Shepherd Tweets thru the Approval Process
Posting
Analyze trends and make recommendations
o Promote consistency of OGE messaging
Update Speaker Resource Guide (Annually)
Consistent look to OGE documents
Make recommendations to Senior Staff
Provide orientation to new employees
Provide talking points for Quarterly DAEO and OGE Meetings

o Support FY16 OGE Initiatives

Marty Campaign
Draft content
Approval
Post/Upload Website
Circulate to Ethics Community

Integrity
Review breach policy for COG considerations
Meet with George and discuss what happens during the exercises
Develop communications for worst case scenarios

Website Update
Review content (Directors Note & News Highlights)

OpenGov
Information set Inventory
Process for posting new information sets and related website analytics
Create an easy to access page oge.gov providing links to information on ethicsrelated laws under the jurisdiction of other agencies (Brian need to ask Shelley)

Summit
Review communications plan
Draft content and schedule
Oversee implementation

Twitter Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Emphasize steps individual take to avoid ethics problems

Emphasize work OGE does to improve and strengthen ethics programs
Emphasize role of citizens in overseeing their government
Show OGE at work (in a better way)

Keep Program Review tweets (include so what)

Re-frame of OGE oversight
DYK that OGE program reviews allow you to assess the health of agency ethics programs? Link to Open
Gov.
Hook for specific program review reports (i.e. DYK that we just reviewed x-agency, we had several
recommendations for improvement)
We just published our program review report of <agency>. They have already taken steps to strengthen
their ethics program. #opengov
Re: Financial disclosure tweets:
Emphasize steps taken to avoid COI.
Learn about the steps that senior government officials take to avoid ethics programs. View their ethics
agreements at: link
DYK that government officials
OGE is working with <agency> to improve their ethics program. Read our report and recommendations.