In a decisive move to curb the unauthorized use of social media, the federal government has officially prohibited government employees from accessing social media platforms without prior permission. This ban follows a memorandum issued to all federal ministries and divisions, emphasizing the consequences of violating these instructions.
The Establishment Division has outlined that civil servants are not allowed to utilize any use of social media without explicit approval. This measure aims to safeguard official information and documents from unauthorized disclosure and ensure the appropriate use of social media. According to the memorandum, government employees must adhere to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules of 1964 and refrain from using any social media applications, such as Facebook and Twitter, without authorization.
Additionally, public servants are prohibited from sharing their opinions or engaging in discussions on social media without permission. The use of social media for disclosing official documents or sensitive information to unauthorized individuals or the media is strictly forbidden. Any expression of opinions or facts that could harm the government’s reputation or invoke legal issues is not allowed.
The memorandum highlights concerns over the use of social media by government employees engaging in discussions on various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Some employees have even established program desks to voice their opinions, which is against the new guidelines.
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However, the memorandum clarifies that these guidelines do not aim to restrict the positive use of social media. Federal secretaries, additional secretaries, heads of departments, and chief secretaries have been instructed to monitor and ensure the removal of any objectionable content.
