Info Commissioner issues social media advice to public servants

It follows a Freedom of Information request for copies of a minister's posts on X

The Information Commissioner is urging public servants such as ministers to make it clear whether their social media accounts are personal or affiliated with a public authority.

It comes after a Freedom of Information request was submitted asking a government department to provide comments posted by its minister.

In July last year, a request was made for copies of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Health Minister Lawrie Hooper in relation to a reporter.

When the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the messages, an internal review was requested before the matter was referred to the Information Commissioner.

In his report, interim commissioner Stewart Haines said he considers Mr Hooper's social media account to be personal, with no evidence of it being issued or jointly managed by the department, and therefore it wouldn't be reasonable to expect the DHSC to conduct a search of the account.

The commissioner did partly uphold the complaint, finding the department failed to respond to the request for an internal review within an appropriate timescale, and needlessly referred to an exemption that wasn't applied.

He also issued guidance to public servants who use social media, advising them to make it clear whether accounts are affiliated or not with a public authority.

Mr Haines says this should be unambiguous, and refrain from using a public authority logo or insignia in line with government's guidelines for use of social media, while also including a disclaimer identifying the account as personal.