The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will use this Threads account for external relations (communications/outreach/public dialogue), to make information and services widely available to the general public, and promote transparency and accountability. DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA) serves as the executive agent for the DHS Threads account and controls who at the Department has access to make changes to the account.
Threads is a third-party social networking tool and its privacy policy can be found at https://help.instagram.com/515230437301944. The DHS privacy policy and Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) govern the Department’s use of Threads from a privacy perspective. The DHS privacy policy can be found at www.dhs.gov/privacy-policy. The DHS PIA "Use of Social Networking Interactions and Applications," September 16, 2010, also applies.
Users engaging the DHS Threads account expect privacy protections while interacting with the Department. DHS will not use this Threads account to: 1) actively seek PII ; 2) search Threads for or by PII; and 3) "follow" public users proactively without a waiver from the DHS Privacy Office (exclusion is made to "following" other U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies.) To the extent a user posts or sends PII to the Department’s Threads account, DHS will use the minimum amount necessary to accomplish a purpose authorized by statute, executive order, or regulation.
DHS will use this Threads account to: 1) establish user names and passwords to form profiles; 2) accept requests from public user accounts to follow DHS; and 3) interact on Threads on official Department business.
The information posted on the DHS Threads account is available to the individual posting and to any and all users on the DHS Threads account who are able to access the public-facing side of the account. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, do not include your full name, date of birth, social security number, address, phone numbers, email addresses, case numbers or any other sensitive PII in your comments or responses.
DHS may share information posted on the DHS Threads account if there is a demonstrated need to know, and will only post information after it has been appropriately approved and vetted by DHS OPA.