Social media monitoring of beneficiaries

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

The request was refused by Ministry of Social Development.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

It was reported this morning that MSD was monitoring beneficiaries via social media to detect fraud ("Beneficiaries are being monitored on social media", Radio New Zealand, 10 February 2016). I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* Any formal policy pertaining to use of social media to monitor beneficiaries;
* if there is no formal policy, or if it does not cover these areas, I would like to know: the evidential bar required for such monitoring to begin, who approves or can approve it, who carries out it and the methods used, what information is typicly collected, how long that information is retained for, and who has subsequent access to it.
* if information is available, the number of times beneficiaries were monitored in the last financial year, and the cost of that monitoring. If exact figures are unavailable, I am happy with your best estimate.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

Tēnā koe Alex Harris

Thank you for your email received 10 February 2016, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National office to respond. You may expect a response to be sent to you as soon as possible.
 
Nā mātou noa, nā

Official and Parliamentary Information team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

Dear Ms Harris,
In relation to your Official Information Act request below. This response was due to you tomorrow however while the response is compiled, it is in the final stages of being signed out and we will send it to you shortly.

Please accept our apologises for the delay and any inconvenience this has caused.

Yours sincerely
Ministerial and Executive Services

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development


Attachment 20160316 Harris Alex Response.pdf
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Tēnā koe Alex Harris,

Please find attached the Ministry's response to your Official Information Act request of 10 February 2016
 
Nā mātou noa, nā

Official and Parliamentary Information team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

show quoted sections

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Social Development only: