After a lengthy review, the Department of Defense (DoD) recently released its policy on accessing social media through military networks. The DoD memo, released in February 2010, is the Pentagon’s nod to the growing use of social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. DoD recognizes that these and other Internet-based capabilities are changing the way military personnel and others exchange information and ideas and stay connected to loved ones, while also offering expanded channels for two-way communication between military leaders and troops in the field.
The new policy generally makes social networks more available to all service members and eliminates service-specific restrictions that varied among military branches. And while the new policy authorizes more open access, some restrictions remain. The policy “permits limited personal use of … government resources … on a non-interference basis.” In other words, access is authorized as long as you don’t let your personal Internet activity interfere with your work. Pornography, gambling and hate crime-related sites remain off-limits and, if you’re using a military network in a personal or unofficial capacity, you need to ensure you don’t imply or infer that you’re representing “the official position of the Department of Defense.” DoD has no immediate plans to add more bandwidth to support increased usage, which may also limit access. And not all military bases have been able to implement the policy “immediately” as stated in the DoD Directive-Type Memorandum 09-026.
The authorized use of SNS is seen by many as a quality-of-life improvement, particularly for those serving far from home. But more than that, it’s also viewed as an interactive tool for mass collaboration and information sharing. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West, Commandant of the Coast Guard Bob Papp, Chief of Naval Operations Gary Roughead, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, and numerous other military leaders have established an official presence on SNS in an effort to communicate more effectively with those they serve and lead. Having an official SNS outlet allows them and their staff to ensure accurate information is being distributed in a timely manner and, equally important, provides a vehicle for individual service members to give direct feedback on the subject at hand.
Most service members are pleased about the broader access, but it’s not all good news. One respondent to FRA’s recent online survey shared concerns about professionalism and described social media in the workplace as a distraction “that takes up valuable time that should be used to complete the mission.”
More importantly, accessing these sites via military networks creates additional security challenges. Another survey respondent summed up his concerns by saying, “No social media is acceptable in this organization, if you want to maintain operational security. Pick one. You cannot have both.”
Facebook’s recent admission of privacy “mistakes” seems to validate this position. Claims that Facebook intentionally makes it difficult for users to limit their exposure and has been sharing users’ personal information with advertisers raise serious questions about the security of SNS. As the allegations against Facebook make national headlines (TIME, "How Facebook is Redefining Privacy," May 20, 2010, and Washington Post, "From Facebook, answering privacy concerns with new settings," May 24, 2010.)
Internet users are reminded that even search engines, like Google, track the topics you search, the online purchases you make and key words in your e-mail communication, and then share this information with advertisers. Coupled with your age, gender and other demographic information that’s readily available on SNS, this knowledge allows advertisers and others to know a great deal about your “likes,” dislikes, and other personal data, including the shopping habits and personal preferences of your friends. The degree to which this information poses a threat to personal and national security is debatable, but it does raise concerns about privacy when the whole purpose of a SNS is to share personal information.
DoD is also quick to remind service members that operational security (or OPSEC) isn’t limited to duty hours or when accessing the Internet from government networks. Online postings and broadcast e-mails – even unofficial ones – that reference travel plans or include photos that reveal sensitive information should be avoided to protect both personal and operational security. In an effort to assist service members use Internet capabilities more responsibly, the government’s Interagency OPSEC Support Staff has prepared a Safety Checklist that offers such tips as checking all photos for indicators in the background and checking file names and tags for sensitive data.
The bottom line is that SNS users must be aware of and accountable for the information they share online. Service members have the added responsibility to ensure the information they share doesn’t compromise national security or mission accomplishment.
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