Can you FOIA a Tweet?

And other interesting questions about

social media and open records law

Can you FOIA a Tweet?

And other interesting questions about social media and open records law

South Carolina Public Relations Professionals

Group

I am not a lawyer

Social media and FOIA

A gray area

South Carolina

FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

N ACT

1987

What is a public record?

Books

Cards

Maps

Documents

Tapes

RecordingsRecordings

…or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body.

We checked Twitter, Facebook and private emails for “official” correspondence.

Lessons Learned

Treat SM postings just like other official communications

Send “official” SM content to your official email

Don’t do official business on private networks

A few other things to ponder

What about comments on government social media sites?

Social media and public meetings

Back up your social media postings the

EASY way

Have a strong SM policyHave a STRONG social media policy

Michael SponhourDirector of Public Affairs

SC Budget and Control Board803-734-0632

www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsponhourabc msponho@oed.sc.gov

www.twitter.com/msponhour