Findings of Improper Use of Nonofficial Electronic Messaging by the USAID Mission to Liberia

Investigative Summary

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation concerning the use of a Yahoo email address found on the USAID Mission to Liberia Facebook page. During its investigation, OIG found the email address had been set up by the mission, likely for the purpose of establishing the Facebook page. 

Pursuant to USAID policy,[1] nonofficial electronic messaging—e.g., personal Gmail and Yahoo email accounts ending in .com, .net, .org, etc.—must not be used to transmit, process, or store Agency-owned or other official government information. Due to possible violations of Federal and Agency information security and records preservation requirements, OIG provided a report to USAID’s Chief Information Security Officer for appropriate action.


 

[1] USAID, Automated Directives System, section 545.3.21.1(c).

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