Northern Ireland Audit Office Social Media Policy

Purpose

Our social media channels are used to share information about the work of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), including reports, events, public engagement, and updates relevant to public sector accountability and good governance.

Our Channels

We currently manage official NIAO accounts on the following platforms:

  • Twitter/X
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • BlueSky

These accounts are managed by our Communications Team and monitored during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm).

What We Post

We use social media to:

  • Share audit reports, press releases, and publications
  • Promote events, campaigns, and consultations
  • Highlight good practice and public sector performance
  • Engage with stakeholders and the public
  • Provide updates on the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Engagement Guidelines

We welcome constructive engagement and feedback. However, to ensure a respectful and safe environment, we ask users to follow these guidelines:

We reserve the right to hide, delete, or report posts or users that:

  • Are abusive, threatening, or harassing
  • Contain obscene, defamatory, or discriminatory language
  • Spread misinformation or impersonate others
  • Violate intellectual property or legal rights
  • Are spam, irrelevant, or promotional in nature
  • Discuss ongoing legal proceedings

We may block or ban users who repeatedly violate these rules.

Endorsements

Follows, likes, shares, or retweets do not imply endorsement by NIAO. We may share content from other accounts if it is relevant to our work, but this does not constitute official support or agreement.

Privacy and Safety

Please do not share personal or sensitive information (e.g. contact details, case information) in public comments. For official correspondence, please use our Contact Us page which can be found on our website www.niauditoffice.gov.uk 

Freedom of Information and Media Enquiries

We do not process Freedom of Information (FOI) requests or formal complaints via social media. These should be submitted through our official channels. Media enquiries should be directed to our Communications Team via email or phone. In line with government guidance, valid subject access requests can be received in any format including but not limited to, in writing, verbally or on social media. Contact details can be found on our website www.niauditoffice.gov.uk 

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy at any time. The most recent version will always be available on our website www.niauditoffice.gov.uk.