An interesting comment on a ClearanceJobsBlog thread tells the story of a clearance holder having foreign family overseas that they no longer communicate with (not knowing current contact information). Unfortunately, this did not sit well with the background investigator and they instructed the clearance applicant to find their foreign, former contacts on Facebook.
“[The background investigator] contacted me 2 days after the ESI (enhanced subject interview) and asked to meet in person because he said that it was developed during the investigation that I had foreign contacts. I didn’t list them [on the SF-86] because I had not seen them in over a decade or spoken to them.
When I explained this to the investigator, he said that several sources told him that I have family overseas. When I explained that yes, they are distant family and indeed overseas, but I don’t talk to them, he wouldn’t accept that as an answer. He wanted names, phone numbers and addresses. I didn’t have any of this info, so he asked me to contact them on Facebook, right in front of him. Even though this was something I have never asked a Subject to do, I did it because I wanted it to be over with. When I realized that they are not on Facebook or any of my social media he got more frustrated and mumbled ‘yeah right, ok’ under his breath.”
WHAT CONSTITUTES A CONTACT AND WHO YOU HAVE TO REPORT
The question regarding foreign contracts on the SF-86 reads: “Do you have, or have you had, close and/or continuing contact with a foreign national within the last seven (7) years with whom you, or your spouse, or cohabitant are bound by affection, influence, common interests, and/or obligation? Include associates as well as relatives, not previously listed in Section 18.”
The original poster was indeed following directions if they were honest about their timelines and contact with the subjects.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATORS ON FACEBOOK
While social media checks are admissible in the security clearance background investigation process, ODNI ensures clearance holders now enrolled in continuous evaluation that the mechanism is not feasible quite yet – but that doesn’t mean an investigator isn’t perusing your Facebook page… or friends. Especially if it’s public domain.
Many security clearance applicants tend to overreport foreign contacts. This one rightfully reported but was caught in a hairy situation because references potentially misspoke – and the investigator extended beyond simply clarifying that information with the applicant, and sought evidence of the relationship. The commenter clarified that they reported the investigator, and discovered that individual was quickly let go for this same kind of overreach in other cases.
Social media is allowable as a part of the background investigation process – and there’s nothing to preclude an investigator from looking at what you’ve publicly posted -but if you’re pushed to share information beyond what’s publicly available, you’re probably the victim of a (rare) instance of an overzealous investigator who’s stepped beyond the bounds.
