Canadian Army warns its soldiers not to post details on Facebook

[Replies: 2]
Here is something of interest. The Canadian Army has just warned its soldiers not to post details about who they are, where they live, and what they are doing in Afghanistan on Facebook, because Al Qaeda is watching. It is also extending that warning to soldiers' families

That is rather sobering.


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/02/25/facebook-military.html


The Defence Department is advising Canadian soldiers not to post personal photos and information on social networking websites like Facebook, citing security concerns.

The advisory was circulated in a memo obtained by CBC News. It warns soldiers not to appear in uniform in online photos and not to disclose their military connections.

"Al Qaeda operatives are monitoring Facebook and other social networking sites," the memo says.

"This may seem overdramatic … [but] the information can be used to target members for further exploitation. It also opens the door for your families and friends to become potential targets as well."

The Defence Department says it is also concerned with postings of photos and information from the battlefront in Afghanistan.

On Feb. 14, military official Brig.-Gen. Peter Atkinson warned against such battle scene postings.

"The insurgents could use this information to determine their success or their lack of it … and determine better ways to attack us," he told reporters in Ottawa.

Military families are already heeding the Defence Department's advice.

Samie Marchand-Whittle, whose husband is in the Canadian Forces, has closed public access to the Facebook page she maintains for military families.

"It's scary to know that they could find out personal information about our families, our children, where we live," said the Edmonton mother of two. "It is really scary."
Last Post Mar 10, 2008 1:36 AM by: Larry
Larry
Posts: 136
From: Silicon Valley, California
Registered: 6/19/06
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Re: Canadian Army warns its soldiers not to post details on Facebook

Mar 10, 2008 1:36 AM
Clearly anyone engaged in confidential activities (such as a military deployment) would be wise to avoid posting information that could put them at increased risk or get them in trouble. It's important to note, however, the difference between giving away logistical information that could jeopardized your safety or the safety of your comrades versus expressing your opinion. I don't know too much about Canada but I do know there are some in the U.S. military who worry about service members expressing their opposition to the war. Last time I checked freedom of speech was a basic American value. That's not to say that there aren't times when "speech" must be limited for security reasons but that's different than expressing one's opinioin.

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Larry
Co-director
ConnectSafely.org
HonorGuardBugler
Posts: 5
From: USA
Registered: 3/9/08
(2 of 3)

Re: Canadian Army warns its soldiers not to post details on Facebook

Mar 9, 2008 12:06 PM
Yes, this is extremely important. Even in what I do as an honor guard member, I have to protect people that I know who are deployed. Even as a bugler, I just recently got verbally attacked for posting on a message board because that person opposes the war in Iraq. It is important for all Canadian and U.S. military members and their supporters to follow operational security at all times.

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Freedom Isn't Free
Duty, Honor, Country!
Henning
Posts: 1
Registered: 2/26/08
(1 of 3)

Canadian Army warns its soldiers not to post details on Facebook

Feb 26, 2008 12:11 PM
Here is something of interest. The Canadian Army has just warned its soldiers not to post details about who they are, where they live, and what they are doing in Afghanistan on Facebook, because Al Qaeda is watching. It is also extending that warning to soldiers' families

That is rather sobering.


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/02/25/facebook-military.html


The Defence Department is advising Canadian soldiers not to post personal photos and information on social networking websites like Facebook, citing security concerns.

The advisory was circulated in a memo obtained by CBC News. It warns soldiers not to appear in uniform in online photos and not to disclose their military connections.

"Al Qaeda operatives are monitoring Facebook and other social networking sites," the memo says.

"This may seem overdramatic … [but] the information can be used to target members for further exploitation. It also opens the door for your families and friends to become potential targets as well."

The Defence Department says it is also concerned with postings of photos and information from the battlefront in Afghanistan.

On Feb. 14, military official Brig.-Gen. Peter Atkinson warned against such battle scene postings.

"The insurgents could use this information to determine their success or their lack of it … and determine better ways to attack us," he told reporters in Ottawa.

Military families are already heeding the Defence Department's advice.

Samie Marchand-Whittle, whose husband is in the Canadian Forces, has closed public access to the Facebook page she maintains for military families.

"It's scary to know that they could find out personal information about our families, our children, where we live," said the Edmonton mother of two. "It is really scary."