The Feds, Football, and Social Media Screening

Just last week, the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, announced that the federal government would begin analyzing the publicly available social media of all applicants seeking a security clearance. This official directive to require social media screening is outlined in a specific policy released Friday.

This news is exciting for a couple of reasons. First, it should attract some of the country's brightest scientists, engineers, and technologists to tackle the complex problem of automated social media analysis. The prospect of substantial government contracts should draw more players into this space, increasing competition in the marketplace. We view this as a positive development—competition drives innovation, leading to more value for our clients at lower costs.

Additionally, this announcement marks one of the first large-scale formal policies for this type of people analysis.

Here's why this is so important:

Most businesses conduct some form of social media screening before hiring, often relying on manual analysis. For example, ESPN recently reported on the GM of the Baltimore Ravens, who examines the online identities of every player considered, even going as far as to print out their tweets.

However, manual checks present significant challenges. They can be time-consuming and fail to involve the candidate in the process. Informal policies often lead to searches conducted behind closed doors, leaving candidates unaware that their online presence is being evaluated, which can result in poor hiring decisions.

Employers who do not obtain a candidate's consent may misinterpret online comments or actions, which can be problematic. As pioneers in this space, we understand how subjective social media data can be and the importance of involving candidates in the conversation. Formal policies necessitate candidate consent, creating a two-way dialogue.

We believe that the government setting this precedent will alleviate private sector concerns about formalizing their own policies. This shift means ensuring compliance with FCRA regulations and involving candidates in every decision, including granting them the right to challenge any information compiled about them by a third party.

We are eager to see how our prediction unfolds and how long the Ravens will continue wasting paper on printed tweets and overpaid quarterbacks!