Abstract

The “Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Corruption in the Civil Service” by the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service, and Sport is a set of rules against corruption for civil servants in Austria. As part of the civil service, employees are committed to the principles of the rule of law, loyalty, transparency, objectivity, fair treatment, integrity, and responsibility. According to the institution’s website, there are plans to make the contents of the code into a fixed element of initial and further training for all civil servants. Particularly relevant is the fourth chapter, pointing out the responsible use of social media. It offers examples of freedom of expression, the publication of personal data, privacy settings, location data, social engineering, and copyright. Employees should keep in mind, that they represent the civic service even during private activities and refrain from making discriminatory and offensive statements.