Government 2.0 Workshop Comment - Thompson

PETER T. KING, NEW YORK BENNIE G. THOMPSON, MISSISSIPPI RANKING MEMBER CHAIRMAN June 1,2009 Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Privacy Officer Attn: Martha K. Landesberg Associate Director for Privacy Policy and Education Privacy Office Washington, DC 20528 Re: Government 2.0 Privacy and Best Practices DHS Docket 2009-0020 Dear Ms. Landesberg: On June 22-23, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office will host a public workshop, Government 2.0: Privacy and Best Practices. This workshop will bring together leading academic, private-sector, and public-sector experts to discuss the privacy issues posed by use of social media. This workshop is designed to develop ideas to help Federal agencies engage the public through social media in a privacy- protective manner and explore best practices agencies can use to implement President Obama's January 21,2009, Transparency and Open Government Memorandum. As Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security, I support the government's use of social media. However, certain practices need be implemented to protect the integrity of the privacy rights of individuals. I. Advantages of Social Media Increased use of technology to promote participatory democracy has long been a goal of the Federal Government. Over eight years ago, the E-Government Act of 2002 called for the promotion of the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide ...