What services is the NZ government getting from the Facebook Corporation

Dave Lane made this Official Information request to Public Service Commission

The request was partially successful.

From: Dave Lane

Dear State Services Commission,

I am interested knowing what services the NZ government has formally contracting or (more informally) otherwise used from the Facebook in the past 3 years.

Separately, I would also like to know how much the NZ government has paid for services provided by the Facebook in that term.

Last, is NZ government aware of the use of services listed on https://politics.fb.com being used by any NZ government agencies, departments, or government-owned organisations?

Sincerely,

Dave Lane

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Dave Lane left an annotation ()

Apologies - I referred to "the Facebook" in my message because I had originally called "the Facebook Corporation" but subsequently removed Corporation, but neglected to remove the superfluous "the".

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From: Ministerial Services

Dear Mr Lane

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your OIA request, received by the State Services Commission (SSC) on 29 November 2018.

I note from your below request you have asked for information from the NZ government. Can you please clarify who you are meaning when you state the NZ Government?

On receipt of your clarification, we will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than are 20 working days after the day your request was received. Please note, the three weeks between Christmas Day and 15 January the following year don't count as working days. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [email address]. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

Our letter notifying you of our decision on your request will confirm if we intend to publish the letter (with your personal details removed) and any related documents on the State Services Commission’s website.

Kind regards
Ministerial Services

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From: Dave Lane

Dear State Services Commission,

I'm not entirely sure whether my request is best directed to the SSC or DIA, so perhaps you can inform me if the latter is more appropriate. I would like to understand the relationship between *all* NZ government departments, agencies, local gov't, and gov't owned entities (e.g. CRIs, Universities) and the Facebook corporation. I would like to be made aware of contractual relationships between those NZ gov't entities, and the detailed cost of engagement, per business unit (where the contractual relationship involves payment) for each of the past 3 years. If the contractual obligation does not involve an exchange of funds (e.g. a gratis service that nonetheless requires the NZ gov't entities using it to accept Facebook's terms and conditions), I would also like to be made aware of that.

If you are only able to provide that information for a sub-set of the gov't entities I described, then please provide it just for those entities. If you are able to advise me as to whom I should address further enquiries to get a complete picture of NZ commitment to, and taxpayer resources paying the Facebook Corporation, I would like that information, too, please.

Sincerely,
Dave Lane

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From: SSC Enquiries

Dear Mr Lane

Thank you for responding to my email of 30 November 2018, which sought further clarification on your Official Information Act (OIA) request.

I confirm we will be responding to your OIA request on behalf of the State Services Commission only. You will need to address each government agency, local government entity, Crown Research Institutes and/or University directly if you require their contractual and financial arrangements with the Facebook corporation.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than are 20 working days after the day your request was clarified. Please note, the three weeks between Christmas Day and 15 January 2019 don't count as working days. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [email address]. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

Kind regards
Ministerial Services

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From: SSC Enquiries


Attachment SSC OIA 2018 0188 FINAL David Lane Facebook.pdf
496K Download View as HTML


Dear Mr Lane

 

Please find attached the State Services Commission response to your
Official Information Act request of 29 November 2018.

 

Kind regards

Ministerial Services

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Dave Lane left an annotation ()

I did not receive sufficient details on the ways in which the SSC was using Facebook's pro bono (no cost) services, which I also requested.This is disappointing.

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Things to do with this request

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