UK Government Advises Civil Servants How to Participate Online
I’ve been waiting years for this one. Clear, simple advice that says if
you work for government you have a legitimate role in interactive spaces
online.
In your professional civil servant role you may, go to where the people
are connecting. No more sitting on the sidelines if you have useful,
factual information to contribute like a link to a government report
that would add value to the conversation. No more fear that (or less
anyway) that your boss will rap you for even posting something in a
neutral, professional manner. This is a real opportunity to serve in a
21st Century way.
Every country needs a similar policy guide or alternatively as a whole,
their government will become irrelevant to most people. Countries with
civil servants disconnected online, have disconnected democracies.
Steven Clift
E-Democracy.Org
P.S. To discuss or report similar policies in other countries use the
DoWire Consult forum:
groups.dowire.org/groups/consult
The Big Deal:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/social_media/participation.asp
I am a civil servant
Principles for participation online
1. Be credible
* Be accurate, fair, thorough and transparent.
2. Be consistent
* Encourage constructive criticism and deliberation. Be cordial, honest
and professional at all times.
3. Be responsive
* When you gain insight, share it where appropriate.
4. Be integrated
* Wherever possible, align online participation with other offline
communications.
5. Be a civil servant
* Remember that you are an ambassador for your organisation. Wherever
possible, disclose your position as a representative of your department
or agency.
How the Civil Service Code applies to online participation
The Civil Service Code applies to your participation online as a civil
servant or when discussing government business. You should participate
in the same way as you would with other media or public forums such as
speaking at conferences.
Disclose your position as a representative of your department or agency
unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as a potential threat
to personal security. Never give out personal details like home address
and phone numbers.
Always remember that participation online results in your comments being
permanently available and open to being republished in other media. Stay
within the legal framework and be aware that libel, defamation,
copyright and data protection laws apply. This means that you should not
disclose information, make commitments or engage in activities on behalf
of Government unless you are authorised to do so. This authority may
already be delegated or may be explicitly granted depending on your
organisation.
Also be aware that this may attract media interest in you as an
individual, so proceed with care whether you are participating in an
official or a personal capacity. If you have any doubts, take advice
from your line manager
Comment here:
powerofinformation.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/social-media-guidance/
More links from:
davepress.net/2008/06/18/civil-servants-and-the-social-web/
Civil Servants and the Social Web
There has been quite a discussion in recent times about the guidance for
civil servants on how they should interract with the social web: see
Emma and Nick for some of what has been said.
Well, now, as Jeremy announces, we have the guidance. We knew this was
coming, because eGovernment minister Tom Watson told us it was imminent
on Twitter.
The guidance itself is up on the Civil Service website, while over on
the Power of Information taskforce’s blog, comments are being sought.
The guidance is nice and short, being made up of 5 bullet points,
followed by a bit of text about how the Civil Service Code affects how
civil servants operate on the web. The five key points are:
1. Be credible
2. Be consistent
3. Be responsive
4. Be integrated
5. Be a civil servant
There is still room for some slightly more detailed guidance, which I
understand will soon be on its way. For example there is a difference
between a civil servant commenting on a post on (say) this blog;
commenting in a post on their own departmental blog; or writing on a
personal blog of their own. This stuff needs exploring, and hopefully it
will be done so in a social, collaborative way.