Applicants won’t be required to provide passwords or account information
By Damian Paletta | The Wall Street Journal
The federal government will begin scanning applicants’ social media posts as part of the security clearance process, a reflection of how information on Facebook, Twitter and similar sites is increasingly seen as an important part of someone’s background.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which plays a central role in setting the guidelines for government security clearances, said Friday the new policy would be adopted soon, with certain limitations.
“Social media has become an integral—and very public—part of the fabric of most Americans’ daily lives,” said Bill Evanina, director of ODNI’s National Counterintelligence and Security Center. “We cannot afford to ignore this important open source in our effort to safeguard our secrets—and our nation’s security.”
