Troops Barred From MySpace and YouTube
The U.S. may have the most fearsome military force in the world, but it seems it's defenseless against popular sites such as MySpace and YouTube. Citing "recreational traffic impacts" the U.S. Defense Department has blocked those sites and 11 others, preventing their access from any DoD-owned computer or network. This means that most soldiers deployed on active duty, far away from their personal computers at home, will be unable to log onto these sites. The move is unfortunate, considering many soldiers rely on MySpace for keeping in touch with friends. This news coming hot on the heels of new and strict rules preventing military personnel from posting to blogs or sending e-mails without clearance from superiors, which makes us wonder if the motivation behind the block is censorship rather than network performance. After all, it would be very easy for a soldier to post sensitive material to either site, which was the reasoning behind the new restrictions on blogs and e-mail.
Blocking YouTube is especially odd given the Army's newly-launched YouTube channel, in which soldiers are encouraged to post up videos to a site they can no longer access. Should be a real hit . . ..
From Money & Finance
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
sparky @ May 14th 2007 1:46PM
i think that is wrong, theese soldiers are out fighting for our country, far away from friends and family, and you take away their main source of communication, to keep im touch with loved ones, not only is it wrong , i think its very bad for moral ,
Kevin @ May 14th 2007 1:49PM
This is also about operational security. If you don't think Al Qaeada, Hezbollah, and other intelligence agencies aren't looking at these sites, think again. Until we all learn how to discipline ourselves with sending out information it is only prudent to stop access. Our adversaries can learn a great deal form these sites, it is called open source intelligence. This is a new world and everyone is learning how to operate in it.
SPEC5 @ May 14th 2007 1:59PM
BUSHITLER AND HIS GESTAPO HATE FOR THE TRUTH TO GET OUT
Eric Ryan @ May 14th 2007 2:00PM
Give me a break Kevin! I highly doubt one of these soldiers is giving any sensative information or operation info on these sites!!!! Its our soldiers communicating with family , friends !!!!
George B @ May 14th 2007 2:03PM
FYI, it wuz chenny's idear. If's ya are tellin da peoples 1 thin buts day can see sumptin dif'rent on Utube its makes me luk bad.
Tsily1979 @ May 14th 2007 2:04PM
I think that our military is afraid of this generation, those who are savvy enough on the computer to really express themselves and stay connected to people at home. I really doubt that any military person would be dumb or callous enough to place classified information on their blogs or sites. They do, however, tend to tell and show the truth. When seeing the videos and blogs, it was one of the few ways that people back at home could really see what things are like. We surely couldn't depend on CNN or C-SPAN for accuracy. By taking away access to these sites by our military personnell, we are also losing our ability to see the truth for their eyes. Everything our media shows us has to meet some approval by the Pentagon. They coudln't have that assurance and couldn't tell us what to think when things were shown on YouTube or MySpace. Not only that, they are damaging soldiers' morale. So, the military seems to be shooting down troops' morale and cutting people off from the truth. It seems that this is far more costly than their claimed network hiccups.
jason @ May 14th 2007 2:07PM
If you don't think intel. is being leaked out, don't forget about Geraldo Rivera disclosing our location in 2003. That is why they ran him out of Iraq. What you may not think is crucial information may be exactly what the enemy is looking for.
cliantha @ May 14th 2007 2:08PM
the military used to screen all mail. closing these sites is no different. soldiers can inadvertantly post sensitive material easily. it is unfortunate that this makes it harder for soldiers and their families to communicate but safety has to be the highest priority.
rhiannon @ May 14th 2007 2:08PM
Given the times we live in, this was a necessary step to be taken.Sadly we aren't the only military that monitors this medium. The internet is a great tool, but its also not a secure medium. I have sons in the military as well as other friends. We know enough to be selective as to what is said. But it would be all too easy to send something you may see as innocuous and have it picked up by another that could glean so needed info from it. I can also see where you think its wrong...but when do you throw down a restriction is the question.Personally, I would rather not hear from my sons for a period of time, if it means keeping them safe. I know that sounds cold, but if it comes down to themn contacting me for a breif few minutes, or them returning safely from where ever....then am going with the second hands down. There was a time we worried about a telephone line not being secured [ and yes it was stated up front..this line in not secure] now its office computers. If you look at it in that way, its being down for their safety that are the target. Many go over with their personal laptops...that is all well and good..this is just affecting office computers. All it takes is getting an ISP address and then its a matter of locking a lazer scope on target. Yes this can be seen as Big Brother...but there are times when the rational makes sense. yes it may make the troops disgruntled ...but it is done to keep them safe as well.
jimmy @ May 14th 2007 2:09PM
NOW...who is it that is threatening our
freedom ?
Daf @ May 14th 2007 2:12PM
Kevin is right. During the second World War, the posters in the post offices said: "A slip of the lip can sink a ship." because it did happen. Spies were stalking and listening. Writing to friends is good, but what is said can be harmful. The army is finally making sense.
debra @ May 14th 2007 2:13PM
I think this is wrong..I understand that this was probably done because some of the soldiers have been posting pictures and comments that could give away their locations..I have seen some of them myself. They said they were going to crack down on the ones doing this...I guess it was just too much effort on their part to check the sites and punish the ones that are actually guilty...let's just take it away from all of them because a few can't follow the rules. Make the guilty ones accountable and leave the rest alone!!! For some of our soldiers these sites are the only way they have to communicate with their family on a regular basis...oh yea..I keep forgetting...when you belong to our government..family comes last!!
Calvin @ May 14th 2007 2:14PM
Operational Security my arse! If you're dumb enough to think that Terrorists are going to be checking myspace and youtube for sensitive information, than you need to join up with the rest of us Real Soldiers & gain some experience. Another example of "censorship" becuz some idiot posted something that MIGHT be deemed sensitive information somewhere? Gimme a break. We knew our rules when we were overseas, & nobody was that dumb. This is bullcrap, plain & simple bullcrap, and that's the opinion of a United States Soldier.
Shannon @ May 14th 2007 2:16PM
That really stinks. E-mail & MySpace is one of the very few ways I get contact from my brother-in-law stationed in Iraq. Oh yeah I'm getting loads of sensitive info from him (sarcasm there in case you didn't get it.) Actually since my husband broke his back last month, the internet has been a godsend in being able to be in touch.
B @ May 14th 2007 2:17PM
I personally am in communication with several soldiers overseas. There is WAY too much info posted on myspace along with pictures. Soldiers post pictures that show details of their locations, the sites are directly connected with their families and friends (which can be used against them if God forbid there was ever a hostage situation), and questions are constantly asked of them publically on there. The info they provide is insane. Kevin is right, it's NOT safe. Some soldiers aren't very bright either and will post details that definitely shouldn't be there and since their officials can't sit there and babysit everything, it only makes sense to remove their access. It's not worth risking the lives of others for contact on myspace. There is still email, IMs, webcams, letters, and phones that can be used. Lack of myspace is not the end of the world.
Pentagon @ May 14th 2007 2:18PM
Pentagon was tipped off the by frequent visits to "lonelygirl15" by Al Qaeada, Hezbollah, and other intelligence agencies.
Mike @ May 14th 2007 2:19PM
My son is in Iraq and fighting for all of us to have our freedom. I support the DoD for blocking the use of these sites. After all our country is at war and a war I support. Take the fight to the terrorist so it doesnt come to our home land. I am amazed at how many so called Americans that think we are safe. Better wake up people, this WAR! Not some kids playing vidoe games. ITS FOR REAL!! So in short, Good Call DoD Dont give our enemy anything to work with and lets get after the shameful scums.
Katie @ May 14th 2007 2:19PM
My husband is in the military and that's one of the only ways to keep in touch with his family and friends. It is sad that it's becoming harder and harder for a government and its people to trust the soldiers and government officals with information. It's just hard not knowing if my husband is dead or wounded and Myspace is a way to comfort me and his family a little more.
Tom @ May 14th 2007 2:19PM
I was in Iraq last year and I think it's reasonable to have restrictions on what troops post. It's a lot easier to kill someone when you know where they'll be and when they'll be there. A lot of our troops don't think about security as much as they should. If you think ANY media is telling the truth, you're crazy and, no, they don't have to pass through a Pentagon censor. But what would I know, I "only" spent a year there.
chris @ May 14th 2007 2:20PM
Well, the best thing is to get our Soldiers out of there so they can watch YOUTUBE and MYSPACE in the safety of their own homes instead of fighting in a war that is a NO-WINNER.