Watch out Military Bloggers! The DOD is watching

You heard correct. The DOD is watching the content of certain types of blogs.
So, as a guideline, the DOD has posted a website on what is appropriate and not.

Here is an exerpt from an article on Military.Com's website:

October 4th, 2005


WASHINGTON — Army officials this week issued new warnings to soldiers
about posting personal stories from combat zones on the Internet and
taking photos at overseas bases, saying those actions could jeopardize troops’ security.

The list of prohibited activities includes taking photos of Defense Department facilities, posting any official Defense Department information and releasing information detailing job responsibilities.

“Whether it is a family Web page or a personal blog, safety and
security measures must be strictly observed,” the message said.
“Sensitive DOD information must not be divulged to the public at
large for national security reasons.”

The message also notes that even some unclassified information “may
not be appropriate for use on the Web” and directs all other
questions related to prohibited activities to security managers.

Army spokesman Paul Boyce said the goal isn’t to prevent soldiers
from writing about their time in a combat zone, and said he knew of
no discussions considering shutting down blog sites or banning the
use of personal cameras.

But Boyce said soldiers need to know that simply taking photos could
threaten operational security.

“We’re just re-emphasizing the danger here,” he said. “We have warned
soldiers to please be extremely careful of any photography,
especially street scenes, because they could be useful to the enemy.”

Boyce said shots of the aftermath of insurgent attacks or roadside
bombs are especially dangerous, because insurgents could use them to
gauge the effectiveness of their attacks.

Officials said the new guidelines were designed to be a reminder to
troops and were not prompted by news this week of a Web site offering
free access to pornography in exchange for gruesome war photos.


Some guidelines

There are new OPSEC guidelines which have been put forth by DOD and the Army regarding internet safety. Whether it is a family Web page or a personal blog, safety and security measures must be strictly observed. Sensitive DOD information must not be divulged to the public at large for national security reasons.

Below are some facts regarding security and important links to sites which provide valuable and timely information regarding this important topic.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the posting or dissemination of certain information, do not hesitate to contact your security or OPSEC manager.
Photography is prohibited in most DOD facilities. Do NOT post any photographs on any Web sites.
Be careful never to divulge information regarding official DOD information. Even if DOD information is unclassified, it may not be appropriate for use of the Web.
Do not give information regarding the job you do for DOD. Log on to AKO to see an important message from the Chief of Staff of the Army regarding OPSEC Security.
Source: The Pentagon OPSEC Working Group

Just a reminder from "Big Brother" that he's out there watching.