Operator of Nauru & Manus Island Detention Centres Places Social Media Bans on Staff

The operator of Nauru and Manus Island detention centres, Transfield Services, has laid down some pretty heavy social media enforcements on their staff.

Recent changes to Transfield Services’ social media policy limits workers’ freedom on social media, and includes:

  • Not revealing any information that “relates to the treatment of transferees in relation to the operations”.
  • Not revealing any “material which may damage the business or reputation of Transfield Services, embarrass Transfield Services, or injure its relationship with the department [of immigration]”. 
  • Possible firing of staff member if an asylum seeker follows them on Twitter, even if the worker did not know, or if the asylum seeker had left Manus Island or Nauru.  
  • Possible firing if a staff member joins a political party that does not agree with Transfield’s actions. The social media policy states that this applies in the case of the worker “promoting, showing support for, or maintaining a membership with an incompatible organisation”, and “showing support for the closure of offshore processing centres by engaging in activities such as public rallies or demonstrations.
    (So… that would include Amnesty International, right?)   

Staff told Guardian Australia they resented the restrictions. “The purpose of this policy is to crush any dissent about offshore processing and to keep the things that are going on in the centre secret,” said a worker at Nauru. A worker from Manus Island said: “I am amazed they think they can actually get away with this.”  

There have also been ‘wanted’ posters put up around Manus Island, with a photograph of a journalist, and warnings about speaking to the media. Guardian journalist Ben Doherty has had his image put on a poster by Transfield staff, that states that staff and asylum seekers should not speak to him, and instead report his presence to security. 
The Guardian noted that Transfield declined to comment on the poster, so it is not currently known if there other posters featuring images and details of other journalists. 
Story via The Guardian
Image via Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

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