Ethics of Politicians and Social Media

L-R: Jason Bakery, Irina Raicu, and David Vossbrink

The overriding theme from the January 31st roundtable on social media and authorities at The Ethics Middle, is that of paradox. We have a multitude of ways to communicate with our constituents, simply this is proving to be a double edge "digital sword." Ethical dilemmas and bug of transparency, accountability, and actuality, were the focus for panelists Jason Bakery, Irina Raicu, and David Vossbrink, before an audition of local elected officials from Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The following six principal dilemmas were discussed:

*Public vs. Private

In a culture where all tweets are archived in the Library of Congress, and plenty has been written on Facebook privacy issues to fill up a book, the public vs. private debate volition exist no doubt be with us for some time. Are in that location any truly "private" posts or, for that matter, private social media channels for elected officials, or is information technology simply a matter of fourth dimension before that inevitable disparaging tweet published months ago suddenly reappears? While politicians tin can await a loss of privacy equally a correct of passage in political success, a Facebook folio for friends and family is not unreasonable expectation…or is it? While the delicate balance betwixt public and private sorts itself out in social media'due south new deck of cards, caution and common sense are fundamental. As Vossbrink commented: "The best advice when posting can be gleaned from Microsoft's famous saying: 'Don't be stupid.'"

*Speed vs. Accuracy

In this age of fast-forward news consumption, constituents expect rapid turnaround on the issues from their elected officials. The need for speed increases the margin for error, while the cost of being wrong raises the stakes. Many citizen journalists often "tweet without thinking," then elected officials demand to prepare the example. Online and real-time, they must communicate efficiently and responsibly, handle crisis communications deftly, and be assertive in posting the facts, ensuring they are consistent throughout.

*Communication vs. Debate

The social media toolkit offers an "embarrassment of riches" for communicating local news and updates. Just is it appropriate for elected officials to go across that and debate constituents online? Opinions varied on the value and appropriateness of extended date. Regime officials should and indeed must convey credibility, authenticity, and clarity on the problems and respond to their constituents' needs, without getting mired in over communication and giving in to social media'south Achilles Heel: the ease of publishing without permissions or filters.

*Quality vs. Quantity

"With social media, you tin can become likewise plugged in…y'all still demand to talk to people," commented Baker, leading to word of the three C's introduced by Raicu: "Are nosotros sacrificing 'Conversation' for mere 'Connection?'" she asked. And where is Advice in all this, which was the signal in the first place? Social media, some experts contend, has fabricated us superficial, resulting in distraction over discourse, and a disturbing new tendency in online aggression, with bullying and – dare we say—lying, becoming increasingly commonplace. "If social media allows us to heed amend, then it's profoundly ethical. Otherwise, we are wasting information technology," added Raicu.

*Social Policies vs. First Subpoena

When staff members post on social media, are they representing themselves or their agencies? Administratively, it'south a fine merely critical distinction. We have the right to our opinions, just in that location are guardrails and increasingly sophisticated frameworks for behavior. In government offices, management is fine-tuning disclaimers and social policies on everything from tweets, to e-mail memory procedures, to dual functioning digital gadgets for work and home, to record-keeping in public meetings --particularly in light of The Dark-brown Act. Vossbrink, for example, keeps the stardom between public and private clear, only posting on his organization's social networks and cautioning against whatever blurring of the public-private persona.

*Consistency vs. Access

The silent bulk tin easily exist displaced past the noisy minority when information technology comes to social media, creating a distorted political landscape in which the opinions of very few can dominate. Consistency in message and in ii-manner dialogue with constituents, both online and offline, is key to counterbalanced communication in government diplomacy and in crossing the digital divide.

Ironically, even in this historic period of memes, hash tags, and vlogs, a surprising number of voices are not being heard--at least non in the latest tweet, blog mail, or Facebook update. Many individuals and entire communities practice not have or may non want access to social media. And and so the age-quondam question in authorities however reigns: how exercise we go a more representative democracy if the majority don't participate? In looking toward the future of real globe politics, we demand to balance our digital selves with our humanity, and promise that the famous epithet "till human voices wake united states and nosotros drown," doesn't become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Jason Baker has been a member of the Campbell City Council since 2008. He earned his B.A. in Political Science at the University of California at David in 1995, and received his J.D. Cum Laude from Santa Clara University Schoolhouse of Police in 2000. Irina Raicu, Internet Ethics Program director at the Ethics Centre, is a Certified Information Privacy Professional person and a graduate of SCU'southward School of Law. She also has a master's degree in English and American Literature from San Jose State University. David Vossbrink, a Stanford University graduate, is Director of Communications for the City of San Jose, and has worked in the field of local government public data for four decades.

Caroline Jaffe-Pickett is Banana Director of Communications and Social Marketing at the Markkula Middle for Applied Ethics.

February 2014

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