The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will use GitHub for collaborative development of software to and encourage community collaboration and information sharing on tools and resources. Software developed using GitHub is open source software (OSS), which is openly available software that can be freely modified and redistributed. In addition to collaboration on code, GitHub can also be utilized to collaborate on data and policy. The DHS-sponsored program management office (PMO) for the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) serves as the executive agent for the DHS GitHub site and controls who at the Department has access to make changes to the page.
GitHub is a third-party, web-based hosting site for software development projects that uses the Git revision control system for the collaborative development of software and its privacy policy can be found at https://help.github.com/articles/github-privacy-policy/. The DHS privacy policy and Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) govern the Department’s use of GitHub from a privacy perspective. The DHS privacy policy can be found at www.dhs.gov/privacy-policy. The DHS PIA "Use of Social Networking Interactions and Applications," September 16, 2010, also applies.
Users engaging the DHS GitHub website expect privacy protections while interacting with the Department. DHS will not use this GitHub website to: 1) actively seek PII; 2) search GitHub for or by PII; and 3) ”friend” or “like” public users proactively without a waiver from the DHS Privacy Office (exclusion is made to “friending” or “liking” other U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies.) To the extent a user posts or sends PII to the Department’s GitHub website, DHS will use the minimum amount necessary to accomplish a purpose authorized by statute, executive order, or regulation.
DHS will use this GitHub website to: 1) establish user names and passwords to form profiles; 2) accept “friend” or “like” requests from public user accounts; and 3) interact on GitHub on official Department business.
The information posted on this GitHub website is available to the individual posting and to any and all users on the DHS GitHub website who are able to access the public-facing side of the account. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, do not include your full name, phone numbers, email addresses, social security number, case numbers or any other sensitive PII in your comments or responses.
DHS may share information posted on the DHS GitHub website if there is a demonstrated need to know, and will only post information after it has been appropriately approved and vetted by DHS OPA.