Mobile messaging applications policy and guidance: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
On 30th October 2023, the First Minister Humza Yousaf was getting asked about people deleting whatsapp messages and he told a news reporter that the Scottish Government “had a social media messaging policy which actually required us to routinely delete Whatsapp messages, that was the policy at the time”.
Based on this First Minister’s statement please provide the following the information.
1. A record of each social media messaging policy that the Scottish Government had in place for First Ministers, Government ministers and Cabinet Secretaries from February 2020 until October 31st 2023.
To be clear, I am asking for each social media messaging policy that stated rules and guidance of how FMs, Government Ministers and Cabs Secs should handle their whatsapp messages and other data on their phone.
Response
The policy which was being referred to was the Mobile messaging apps - usage and policy: guidance.
Please see the link to the published version 2.1
Mobile messaging apps - usage and policy: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Version 1 included with this response was a very early fact finding draft that was never published.
Version 2 included with is response was the first substantial draft.
Version 2.1 includes one change from version 2 which was:
“Para 1.2 went from saying: Social media platforms such as Facebook also use mobile messaging within them, but these are extremely insecure platforms on which to have any conversations regarding government business and for this reason, we strongly advise against using any chat tools within social media platforms.
To saying: Social media platforms such as Facebook also use mobile messaging within them, but these are not always secure platforms on which to have conversations regarding government business. For this reason, we strongly advise against using any chat tools within social media platforms”
Version 2.1 was developed in November 2021. This policy applies to - please see paragraph 2.2 of the published policy
You may also find the following information useful:
- UK Covid-19 Inquiry - provision of information: Deputy First Minister statement - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Written question and answer: S6W-22874 | Scottish Parliament Website
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
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