The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will only use Hootsuite to manage DHS social media accounts listed on the DHS Social Media Directory to improve the delivery of information and services to the general public, while promoting transparency and accountability, as a service for those seeking information about, or services from, the Department.
The DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA) serves as the executive agent for the DHS use of Hootsuite and controls who has and will maintain access.
Hootsuite is a third-party digital service (TPDS) and its privacy policy can be found at https://www.hootsuite.com/trust-center/privacy. The DHS privacy policy can be found at https://wwww.dhs.gov/privacy-policy. The DHS PIA "Use of Social Networking Interactions and Applications," also applies.
DHS has concluded that users engaging DHS on official DHS social media accounts managed by Hootsuite fully expect privacy protections while interacting with the Department. While users may have been required to submit some personally identifiable information (PII) during the registration process for the social media accounts being used to interact with DHS, the Department will not solicit or collect this PII. DHS does not have access to, and will not seek, your registration information unless the information used during registration pre-populates a public profile when interacting with DHS, or if your privacy settings allow this display. DHS will only collect information posted to official DHS social media accounts managed by Hootsuite that is necessary for the proper performance of official Department functions.
DHS will not use Hootsuite to: 1) actively seek PII, and may only use the minimum amount of PII, which it receives, to accomplish a purpose authorized by statute, executive order, or regulation; 2) search social networking websites or applications for or by PII (PII sent to DHS may be retrieved by personal identifier if outlined in a previously published DHS Privacy Act System of Records Notices found at www.dhs.gov/privacy); and 3) collect, store, or share any post, message, or comment that uses or identifies the individual posting without a waiver from the DHS Privacy Office (exclusion is made for posts, messages, or comments made by public figures and other U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies).
The messaging posted on official DHS social media accounts managed by Hootsuite is available to the individual posting, all users subscribed to the individual social media accounts, and any who can access the public-facing side of the accounts. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, do not include your full name, phone numbers, email addresses, social security number, case numbers or any other sensitive PII in your comments or responses.
DHS may share information posted on official DHS social media accounts managed by Hootsuite if there is a demonstrated need to know and will only post information after it has been appropriately approved and vetted by DHS OPA and Privacy.
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Policy
All DHS posts to DHS social media accounts managed by Hootsuite will ensure that information is presented neutrally, without bias or preference. DHS will not post information that suggests that the government will consider taking action that would amount to suppression or coercion of protected speech or other activities protected by the U.S. Constitution. DHS will also not collect or retain any information associated with activity on the service solely for the purpose of monitoring activities protected by the U.S. Constitution.