Concerns raised over NI council policy to disclose private messages

The corporate committee of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has approved a communications policy requiring the disclosure of council-related data across all messaging platforms, including WhatsApp.

The measure aims to ensure messages on non-corporate channels can be traced and retrieved for information access requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Official communications currently rely on Microsoft Teams and include council-issued handsets.

However, elected members have raised concerns over enforcement, oversight, and the absence of prior trade union consultation. The concerns include the disproportionate disciplinary risks placed on frontline workers who use private devices, as it relies heavily on staff self-reporting. Senior decision-making processes are more challenging to audit. Other issues involve the legal implications of requiring disclosure from external third parties, such as contractors, consultants, and the public. There are also broader concerns about record deletion, which were previously highlighted during the UK Covid inquiry.

A council officer clarified, however, that the policy draft was submitted to the committee first in line with established procedures, with formal trade union consultations planned for December. Any substantial amendments arising from those discussions will then return to the committee for final approval.

Editor's note: Official communication channels remain available. 

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