The rise of social media has had both positive impacts as well as adverse effects in organizations. For instance, it fosters communication in organizations especially when information is conveyed via social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Besides, the transfer of information is fast to the intended audience through the use of the agency’s Facebook page (Quinn, 2016). However, there is a skyrocketing misuse of social media by employees from different organizations. Workers of various agencies around the world often misuse confidential information. Furthermore, there are high chances of misinterpreting of the firms’ views through the use of the social media sites. Other areas of abuse include harassment and disparaging statements concerning the business as well as the employees. Studies show that most of the organizations are facing a challenge when it comes to separating the social networking use, for organizational use and personal purposes (IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center, 2010). Law enforcement agencies are also facing the same problems just like any other organization. Some sensitive information concerning the police agencies or intelligence matters has a likelihood of leaking out through social media. Moreover, police officers’ are likely to post information to their private social media accounts thus interfering with the private policy of their respective contracting agencies. It implies that there is a need for developing a comprehensive policy regarding regulating the usage of social media by the police officers. However, the policy should not infringe the constitutional rights of the officers. The strategic plan developed should facilitate the circulation of agency’s private data within the organization while disseminating the one intended for public (IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center, 2010). Through exploring the best practices of regulating police officers social media use, a departmental policy on its usage by law enforcement officials will be accomplished.
Risks Associated with Social Media Use
It is imperative to comprehend various risks that a police officer is likely to encounter while using social media in the development of the policy. The risks include:
Breach of trust- it is also referred to as a breach of confidence. It occurs when a police officer posts materials about the police service as well as the colleagues on the social media.
The unauthorized revelation of personal information- it occurs when a police officer discloses individual information that has not legally consented to the disclosure. The act is against the law, the 1998 Data Protection Act.
Conveying police service discredit- bringing such a discredit affects the public confidence with the police service since information is passed by a person serving in the organization that guarantees public trust on the malfunctioning of the police agency.
Revealing operational constituents as well as tactics- Disclosing operational material and police tactics offer criminals an opportunity to come up with the best strategy to counter investigations.
Revealing personal data- it increases the vulnerability of the officers to harassment and blackmail.
The organizational safety needs to be maintained at all times both while online as well as offline. Any information that is placed on social media whether on an open or closed group it is considered a public disclosure. The possibilities of going viral are so high and thus reaching individuals who were not primarily targeted. The public expects police officers to embrace integrity and impartiality in their operations. Besides, they require them to uphold respect to all people while executing their duties and responsibilities (Quinn, 2016).
Law Enforcement Organizations’ Regulation of Social Media
Police agencies have made considerate efforts towards establishing control measures on the usage of social media for purposes of minimizing the adverse impacts that can have deteriorating effects. Police force training on the effective use of social networking sites is an essential step in establishing the control measures. It assists in instructing what should appear on social media sites for the safety of the organization and individual police officers. Currently, social networks’ use during the working hours via the force systems is not allowed (Quinn, 2016). Law enforcement officials who wish to access social networking sites during working hours are typically permitted to do so using their cell phone devices only during the organization’s officially recognized break. Posting photographs or videos of the police premises by the officers is also prohibited. Besides, police officers are not allowed to update information undermining the operations of police or the areas that the officers will be operating on a particular day. Stacy Dillon stresses the point of educating police officers to be out of social media since it leads to unnecessary investigations that bore adverse outcomes (Collom, 2012). Most of the agencies have precise regulatory mechanisms that guide information dissemination while upholding the organization's integrity. However, more still needs to be done concerning regulating police officers’ social networking use. For example, in 2009, a trooper faced Internal Affairs Investigations for posting statements concerning the police agency. The investigations showed that the officer typically utilized his Facebook for posting threatening messages to the people who resisted arrest as well as intimidating other officers (Daigle, 2016). Such a behavior justifies the need for developing a comprehensive policy.
A Comprehensive Social Media Policy in a Police Agency
An effective social regulation in a law enforcement organization is the key to success especially with the current trade of incorporation of social media in associations. A law enforcement agency should come up with a regulatory mechanism to ensure that police officers’ do not use their personal accounts to post information that is directly or indirectly attributable to the organization. Furthermore, officers should not indicate their affiliation agencies while networking. Concealing the identity of a law-enforcement officer in social media is essential especially when it comes to acquisition of information during investigations. Policy to regulate police officers’ social media use will incorporate the following sub-sections that will offer a guide to police officers on the social media usage:
Maintenance of Public Trust as well as Confidence
Maintenance of public trust and confidence is paramount for a police agency. Information of obtained from third party sources should be concealed and should not be posted on the social media. Besides, the data acquired from the third parties should not be used for personal reasons. The information concerning the organizations and the employees is also imperative in winning the confidence of the public. The policy will require police officers not to post any adverse information concerning the agency, colleagues, and police service on social media. Keeping the undesirable info of the office safeguards it from reaching the public who are likely to develop a negative attitude towards the organization upon getting such data and eventually deteriorate their trust to the agency.
Safeguarding Personal as well as Sensitive Data
Law enforcement officials usually come across sensitive personal information. For instance, the data concerning the identity of a person, race, ethnicity, occupation, sexual life, and political opinion amongst others. Police officers who acquire personal data of the third party during their investigations have a duty of protecting such information. Personal sensitive information should not be updated in social media.
Maximizing the Police Service Reputation
Police officers should be aware of the social media viral effect. Any discrediting information is likely to reach many people within seconds. Posting information that is likely to undermine the law enforcement agency can bring out a bad picture to the public. On the other hand, updating motivational information enhance the organization’s reputation. Police officers should not use social media for promoting issues such as discrimination or undermining a group of people. Social media should be utilized for purposes of boosting the institution’s trust. The policy prohibits all the usage of social media for discrediting and discrimination intents.
Police Officers should keep their Private Life Private
Currently, criminals are turning to social media to obtain information concerning police officers. The data collected can be used for embarrassing, harassing, corrupting, blackmailing, or discrediting police officers or their families. Offenders’ use of such information often makes the police officer discouraged in the execution of his duties and responsibilities. Officers should not post their location, positions, and families amongst other personal life on social media. The policy will require police officers to remove their personal details, telephone numbers, register to evade unwanted calls and mail, and request for Google maps not to show their locations amongst other sensitive personal data. Besides, police officers will be required not to post their images on networking sites.
Maintenance of Public Safety
Maintaining public safety should a priority goal for police officers. Tactics utilized by the organization should remain a secret. Disclosing tactical information reduces the effectiveness of the organization. The information concerning ongoing criminal prosecutions as well as investigations needs to be concealed at all costs. Revealing investigation information is likely to equip offenders with an adequate measure for countering the police activities during the investigation process. Disclosing prosecution info interferes with the constitutional rights of an individual on the fair trial. Besides, revealing such information amounts to the Courts Contempt. Police officers and staff should not post operational materials as well as tactics on the social media.
Switching Off Location Based Services
LBS in social networks permits other social media operators to establish the location of a user. Most of the social networking sites have location-based services application. In an event where a police officer is carrying out operations with an abled LBS, it is easier to track movements. LBS can also be used by the criminals to track out movements of a police officer that are likely to make the information concerning the home address and the workstation to be clearly recognized through scrutinizing the patterns of movement. Police officers are advised to turn off their LBS and GPS on the cell phones to avoid the chances of disclosing their location while posting images and updating information on the social networks. Besides, police should also carefully choose whether to able or disable their LBS and GPS applications on their cell phone devices while off duty.
Conclusion
Social networking can offer substantial benefits to police officers only if it is used appropriately only if police officers comprehend all the risks involved in the usage. Through exercising the above cautionary measures police officers will eliminate the chances of risks and thus enhancing the operationalizing of the law enforcement agency.
References
Collom, L. (2012). When police officers use social media, their departments see risks. Retrieved
April 14, 2016, from http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/20120301police-officers-social-media-use-departments-see-risks.html
Daigle, E. P. (2016). Police Chief Magazine - View Article. Retrieved April 14, 2016, from
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch
IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center. (2010). Social Media. 1-6.
Quinn, K. (2016). Why We Share: A Uses and Gratifications Approach to Privacy Regulation in
Social Media Use. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 60(1), 61-86. doi:10.1080/08838151.2015.1127245
Social Media Misconduct in the Office Is Rising. (2014). Information Management Journal,
48(4), 17.
