DHS/USSS/PIA-026 Social Media Screening

The United States Secret Service (USSS or Secret Service) Security Management Division (SMD) has procured a contract to conduct social media checks in support of the background investigation (BI) process for hiring, continuous evaluation, and periodic reinvestigation. The Secret Service uses these BI processes to help mitigate the risk posed by those who potentially represent a threat to national security through proactive intervention and by identifying security-relevant information. Currently, various sources are checked for personnel security purposes, and USSS is adding a review of publicly available social media information to the existing processes that USSS security personnel use in identifying relevant information in assessing the eligibility of job applicants who have been conditionally selected for hire; reinvestigation of personnel holding clearances; and evaluation of a covered individual on an ongoing basis during the period of eligibility. The Secret Service is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to discuss the collection, use, and maintenance of social media information in these processes. December 2019

Associated SORN(s):

• DHS/ALL-023 Department of Homeland Security Personnel Security Management