Recently the United States Ministry of Defence (MoD) has started a video campaign to warn against the perils of social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook etc. The purpose of such a campaign is only to alert servicemen and women of possible security risks that could arise through using Twitter and Facebook. These videos of the awareness campaign are posted on YouTube channel of MoD and there are more such videos planned to be released in the coming months.
Basically, the MoD is trying to warn their servicemen of how much information is available online about them, especially being connected with the military or even being a military civilian. Through such various messages and posting, an entire picture and personality profiling can be done which is dangerous in many ways. Not only does it put a person writing such messages and tweets at risk, but also endanger others from colleagues to close friends and family.
On this subject of security concern, the MoD blog says that though social networking sites are a great way to keep up with what is going on with your family and friends, it also allows others to be aware of what you have been up to. The blog further warns that, “Remember that there may be those who are using such sites for unsavoury reasons. These range from criminals looking for ways to con you or steal your identity, to those who may wish us harm. While it is unlikely that you’ll fall victim, you should be aware of the risk.”
In the first video, it has been shown that two female Navy personnel are tweeting and using Foursquare sharing information about their night out on the town. The question that the video asks is about who else knows of their location, positing “Is if just your mates who know where you’ve checked in?”
Another video depicts a mother who is posting a message on Facebook about her airman son serving in Afghanistan. Through Facebook she informs that her son is expecting a visit from a VIP soon to his base in Afghanistan. Then the doorbell rings by a man wearing a balaclava, camouflage gear, etc. and he comes in and drinks a cup of tea as she shows him photos of her son. The warning that this video carries is that it may not only be your friends who would be reading your status updates, but others can too.
Such awareness campaigns have taken place in history before with the United Kingdom warning its people through propaganda campaign during the Second World War. Back then British public was told that “Careless talk costs lives”. In the United States now, the Americans are being told that “Loose Lips Sinks Ships”.
Militaries from both the US and the UK are exploring the use of social networks in military conditions. Just last year in March 2010, the US Department of Defense (DoD) loosened its restrictions on using Twitter and Facebook, when it allowed its military personnel to use such sites after reviewing. But in the UK, the restrictions have always less severe about social networking.
MoD even issued “Online Engagement Guidelines” in August 2009 to let military personnel know its expectations of how to use social networking technology in a secure way. But MoD got disappointed in January 2010 when some of the personnel revealed secret information on Twitter and Facebook. This has happened 16 times in the past 18 months. The only measure it took was to discipline ten personnel in this matter.
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