TIGTA

"..The Division also provides expertise in the use of technical and electronic investigative equipment including on-site assistance during investigations, enhancement of video and audio evidentiary material, and technical surveillance countermeasure activities. Further, the Division evaluates firearms and officer safety equipment and techniques and develops and oversees training concerning these issues for TIGTA."

"The Investigative Process

Initiating an Investigation. Each investigation begins with the receipt of an allegation or complaint, which can be received from a variety of sources including: IRS employees, taxpayers, law enforcement agencies, other federal agencies or referrals from Congress. The TIGTA Hotline, which is available to IRS employees and the general public, is a vehicle for reporting complaints and allegations. Investigations are also initiated as a result of proactive analysis, such as matching computer files to identify potential fraud and misuse of IRS information. This includes unauthorized access to taxpayer accounts (UNAX) by IRS employees.

Each allegation received is analyzed to determine appropriate investigative action. Although not every allegation results in an investigation, every allegation is reviewed and TIGTA actions are documented. All reports concerning threats, assaults and bribery attempts require immediate response. Allegations of employee misconduct and those concerning taxpayer protection and rights also receive high priority status."

http://www.ustreas.gov/tigta/about_what.shtml (cache)(cache)

Some reasons why a TIFTA employee may want to remain annoynous, in unsanctioned activities, is they may be in violation of TIGTA guidelines shown below. Especially if there activities may have the appearance of a "Hate Crime" being committed because of a bias against a "religion" or religious group!

TIGTA EMPLOYEE-GUIDE

http://www.teleworkexchange.com/TIGTA-Employee-Guide.pdf

5. RESPONSIBILITIES.

c. Employees are accountable to follow rules and regulations and to be responsible for their own personal and professional conduct. The OGE Standards of Ethical Conduct states, “Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.” 5 CFR § 2635.101(b)(5). In addition, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Employee Responsibilities and Conduct, states, “An employee shall not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the Government.” 5 CFR § 735.203.

6. AUTHORITY.

a. 5 CFR Part 2635, Office of Government Ethics, Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch

b. 5 CFR Part 3101, Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of the Treasury

c. 31 CFR Part 0, Department of the Treasury Employee Rules of Conduct

d. 5 CFR Part 735, Office of Personnel Management, Employee Responsibilities and Conduct

e. Treasury Directive 87-04, Personal Use of Government Office Equipment Including Information Technology, May 17, 2001

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f. TIGTA Operations Manual (700)-30, Ethics

7. REFERENCES.

a. 5 CFR § 2635.101 (b)(5) and (9), Basic Obligation of Public Service

b. 5 CFR § 2635.702 (b), Appearance of Governmental Sanction

c. 5 CFR § 2635.704 (a) and (b)(1), Use of Government Property

d. 5 CFR § 2635.705, Use of Official Time

e. 5 CFR § 735.203, Conduct Prejudicial to the Government

f. 31 CFR § 0.213, General Conduct

g. Federal CIO Council, Recommended Executive Branch Model Policy/Guidance on “Limited Personal Use” of Government Office Equipment including Information Technology, May 19, 1999, http://www.cio.gov/files/peruse.pdf

h. 41 CFR § 101-35.201 (FPMR)

i. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, Appendix III, “Security of Federal Automated Information Resources”

j. TD P 71-10, Department of the Treasury Security Manual (http://Intranet.cio.treas.gov/sites/cio/mag3/securityfs.htm)

k. TD P 81-01, Department of the Treasury Information Technology (IT) Manual

l. TIGTA Operations Manual, chapter (500)-70, Information Systems Security.

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Appendix A

Specific Guidance

1. Specific Provisions on the Limited Personal Use of Government Equipment and Information Technology

2. Inappropriate Personal Uses

Employees are expected to conduct themselves professionally in the workplace and to refrain from using government office equipment for activities that are inappropriate. Misuse or inappropriate personal use of government office equipment includes but is not limited to:

e. using government office equipment for activities that are illegal, inappropriate, or offensive to fellow employees or the public. Such activities include, but are not limited to: hate speech, or material that ridicules others on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation;

4. Proper Representation

It is the responsibility of employees to ensure that they are not giving the false impression that they are acting in an official capacity when they are using government office equipment for non-government purposes. If there is a reasonable expectation that such a personal use could be interpreted to represent an official position, then an adequate disclaimer must be used. One acceptable disclaimer is – “The content of this message is mine personally and does not reflect the position of the U.S. Government, the Department of the Treasury, or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.”

The OGE Standards of Ethical Conduct states that “…an employee shall not use or permit the use of his Government position or title or any authority associated with his public office in a manner that could reasonably be construed to imply that his agency or the Government sanctions or endorses his personal activities.” 5 CFR § 2635.702(b). In addition, 5 CFR § 2635.704 concerning the use of government property, 5 CFR § 2635.705, Use of Official Time, and 31 CFR § 0.213 concerning general conduct should be reviewed.

5. Privacy Expectations

Employees do not have a right, nor should they have any reasonable expectation, of privacy while using any government office equipment at any time, including accessing the Internet or using e-mail. To the extent that employees wish that their private activities remain private, they should avoid using government office equipment such as their computer, the Internet, or e-mail for such activities. By using government office equipment, employees give their consent to disclosing the contents of any files or information maintained using government office equipment. In addition to access by TIGTA officials, data maintained on government office equipment may be subject to discovery and Freedom of Information Act requests.

By using government office equipment, consent to monitoring and recording is implied with or without cause, including (but not limited to) accessing the Internet or using email. Any use of government communications resources is made with the understanding that such use is generally not secure, is not private, and is not anonymous.

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