The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will use this LinkedIn page for external relations (communications/outreach/public dialogue), to make information and services widely available to the general public, while promoting transparency and accountability, as a service for those seeking information about, or services from, the Department. DHS OPA serves as the executive agent for the DHS LinkedIn page and controls who has and will maintain access.
LinkedIn is a third-party social networking tool and its privacy policy can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. The DHS privacy policy can be found at www.dhs.gov/privacy-policy. The DHS PIA "Use of Social Networking Interactions and Applications," September 16, 2010, also applies.
DHS has concluded that users engaging the DHS LinkedIn page 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 LinkedIn, the Department will not generally solicit or collect this PII. DHS does not generally 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 the LinkedIn page that is necessary for the proper performance of official Department functions.
Generally, DHS will not use this LinkedIn page 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/topic/privacy); and 3) ”friend” or “like” public users proactively without a waiver from the DHS Privacy Office (exclusion is made to “friending” or “liking” other U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies.)
DHS will use this LinkedIn page to: 1) establish user names and passwords to form profiles; 2) accept “friend” or “like” requests from public user accounts; and 3) interact on LinkedIn on official Department business.
The information posted on this LinkedIn page is available to the individual posting and to any and all users on the DHS LinkedIn page who are able to access the public-facing side of the account. 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 the DHS LinkedIn page if there is a demonstrated need to know, and will only post information after it has been appropriately approved and vetted by DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA).
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Policy
All DHS posts to LinkedIn 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.