[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 73 (Friday, April 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17876-17877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8868]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0020]


Public Workshop: Government 2.0: Privacy and Best Practices

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.

ACTION: Notice announcing public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office will host a 
public workshop, Government 2.0: Privacy and Best Practices.

DATES: The two-day workshop will be held on June 22, 2009, from 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on June 23, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Written comments should be received on or before June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Atrium Ballroom, Washington 
Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001. Submit 
comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov) 
by following the instructions provided there, or send your comments by 
e-mail to [email protected], by fax to (703) 483-2999, or by U.S. 
mail to Martha K. Landesberg, Associate Director for Privacy Policy and 
Education, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, 
DC 20528. All comments must include the words ``Government 2.0 
Workshop'' and the Docket Number (DHS-2009-0020). To register for the 
workshop, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with 
``Government 2.0 Workshop Registration'' in the subject line, and your 
name and organizational affiliation, if any, in the body of the e-mail. 
Alternatively, you may call 703-235-0780 to register and provide this 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha K. Landesberg or Toby Milgrom 
Levin, DHS Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, 
DC 20528; by telephone 703-235-0780; by facsimile 703-235-0442; or by 
e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
Privacy Office is holding a public workshop to bring together leading 
academic, private-sector, and public-sector experts to discuss the 
privacy issues posed by Government use of social media. The purpose of 
the workshop is to help Federal agencies to engage the public through 
social media in a privacy-protective manner and to explore best 
practices that agencies can use to implement President Obama's January 
21, 2009, Transparency and Open Government Memorandum. The workshop 
will consist of a series of presentations and panel discussions that 
include the broad range of stakeholder perspectives. Panelists will 
discuss such issues as: The benefits of social media to expand 
transparency and participation in Government; the privacy and related 
legal issues raised by Government use of social media; and how 
Government can best harness these new technologies while protecting 
privacy.
    Workshop attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions after 
each panel.
    The workshop is open to the public, and no fee is required for 
attendance. An agenda and logistical information will be posted on the 
http://www.dhs.gov/privacy Web page for this workshop shortly before 
the event. A written transcript will be posted on the Web page 
following the event.
    Topics for Comment: To develop a comprehensive record regarding 
Government use of social media, the DHS Privacy Office also invites 
interested parties to submit written comments as described below. 
Comments should be received on or before June 1, 2009, and should be as 
specific as possible. The Privacy Office welcomes comments on any issue 
of fact, law, or policy related to the privacy issues posed by 
Government use of social media. The Privacy Office is particularly 
interested in receiving comments on the following topics:
    1. How is Government currently using social media?
    2. What are the benefits, to the public and to Government, of 
Government's use of social media?
    3. What are the risks, to the public and to Government, of 
Government's use of social media?
    4. What operational issues are raised by Government use of social 
media?
    5. What privacy issues are raised by Government use of social 
media? What are the privacy impacts of Government use of social media? 
Are there privacy issues that are unique to Government use of social 
media?
    6. What legal issues are raised by Government use of social media? 
Are there legal issues that are unique to Government use of social 
media?
    7. What security issues are raised by Government use of social 
media? Are there security issues that are unique to Government use of 
social media?
    8. What should be the elements of privacy best practices for 
Government use of social media? The Privacy Office requests that, where 
possible, comments include references to literature, technical 
standards and/or other resources that would support implementation of 
the best practices identified.
    Written comments must include the words ``Government 2.0 Workshop'' 
and the Docket Number (DHS-2009-0020), and may be submitted by any one 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Government 2.0 
Workshop Comment'' and the Docket Number (DHS-2009-0020) in the subject 
line of the message.
     Fax: (703) 483-2999.
     Mail: Martha K. Landesberg, Associate Director for Privacy 
Policy and Education, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, 
Washington, DC 20528.
    All written comments received will be posted without alteration on 
the http://www.dhs.gov/privacy Web page for this workshop, including 
any personal contact information provided.
    Registration: In order to assist us in planning for the workshop, 
we ask that attendees register in advance. To register, please send an 
e-mail to [email protected] with ``Government 2.0 Workshop 
Registration'' in the subject line, and your name and organizational 
affiliation, if any, in the body of the e-mail. Alternatively, you may 
call 703-235-0780 to register and to provide the DHS Privacy Office 
with your name and organizational affiliation, if any. The Privacy 
Office will use this information only for purposes of planning this 
workshop and to contact you in the event of any logistical changes. An 
agenda and logistical information will be posted on the http://www.dhs.gov/privacy Web page for this workshop shortly before the 
event. A written transcript will be posted on the Web page following 
the event.
    Special Assistance: Persons with disabilities who require special 
assistance should indicate this in their registration request and are 
encouraged to identify anticipated special needs as early as possible.


[[Page 17877]]


    Dated: April 13, 2009.
Mary Ellen Callahan,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-8868 Filed 4-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9L-P