Drew1369

When I was in the service this wasn't happening but the rumors of AFOSI (the USAF FBI equiv) was surfing myspace to check and make sure you weren't posting classified materials and such. So what can you do, you post something that is public you could possibly open up lawsuits against you as its not an invasion of privacy because you publicly posted.

But with the internet being so widespead around the world and anyone being able to read it INCLUDING the enemy would this be something that is a good thing?

Now before people start screaming censorship when you are in the military you have to follow the orders of those above you, and being that you can't spew out classified materials because they are, well, classified, its not an infringment on freedom of speech.

So how can this be handled... is this the correct way? You have to get permission from your suppervisor and PR officer. Or should it just be forbidden. OPSEC (Operational Security) is a big big issue EVEN when I was in before 9/11 and such, that even tho something isn't classified it could still be pieced together to gather useful information that can cost lives and equipment.

Say for instance personel numbers... its not classified, but say I was to let it slip that there are "Y" number of people at "X" AFB the enemy could know about how many troops they would need to assault that location to take it over.

Just like troop movements, I let it slip in an e-mail/blog that we are going out on a convoy mission at 1500zulu the enemy would know the exact time and be able to set up an ambush.

So what can you do... what would be the option?



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070502/..._army_blogs_dc

cstr20cstr

First of all, when I was in the military it was put out to us on many occasions that classified information, and information about our actions & movements, were NOT to be released to anyone on the outside.

So I think it should be common sense (to say the least), that military members shouldn't be posting their plans/movments on the web.

Since this stuff like this would help the enemy though, it wouldn't surprise me if left-wing extremists and the ACLU would side with allowing military members to put classified information on the web.

bry623

Simple solution, amend the military code of conduct to say that if you post classified material on the web, it is treason. Treason is punishable by death.

Zazula

Maybe you're failing to grab Drew's point. Classified information is a clear-cut issue; however an enemy can use even naïve unclassified info posted, in such a cunning way, that important conclusions can be reached and significant damages can be induced as a result of this. And there's an even more nefarious way of using the armed-forces men's & women's online presence: through plotting to frame them into situations to be used against them, blackmail them to extract valuable info, etc. (As fas as cstr's comment on the left-wing extremists, it doesn't deserve even a jeer. )

bry623

Exactly so any active or inactive duty soldier that does this, gets the firing squad.

Drew1369

That already happens, kinda more like jail time and such. But my main thing is OPSEC information... not classified but can still cause damage if released. I think DOD is doing the right thing, but only because I have seen the damage it can cause.

cstr20cstr

It's a shame that other organizations that deliberately leak classified military information don't get the axe also, NYT -cough-

Drew1369

but its who they get the information from that gets in trouble if they were to ever find out... being that journelists don't have protection from sources like lawyers or doctors as we have seen with the Plame case.

And thats a fine line as well because of the freedom of press issue... its what makes our country what it is!

cstr20cstr

I agree in freedom of the press up to a point. If the press is knowingly releasing classified information to embolden the enemy, that's treason.

Nik00117

Anyone that is caught releasing classified information should recieve approitet punishment.

Some things are more seasons then others.

I mean if your a fighter pilot, and you gotta do a mission out of Germany in the morning at 7:30 saying i'm going do bombing runs in the bombing isn't a bad thing.

But if your going out on partol saying i'm going do a partol in the morning would be more seriouss.

Mainly because enemy can't really shoot down our bombers (fly to high) but they can shoot down our soliders.

Drew1369

not neccesarily because the enemy can stand by the runway with a missle and get it while it takes off!