Only a matter of time..

[Utah Bob]

Source is Here

March 3, 2010, 1:26 pm
Israeli Raid Canceled After Facebook Leak
By ROBERT MACKEY

Updated | 4:12 p.m. Israel’s Army Radio reported on Wednesday that a raid on suspected militants in the West Bank planned for Wednesday was called off by the country’s military because a soldier posted details of the operation on Facebook.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz explained that the soldier posted a status update letting friends know that his unit was preparing to go to a West Bank village near Ramallah: “On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, god willing, we come home,” the soldier wrote.

Haaretz added that the soldier, who has been relieved of combat duty, “also disclosed the name of the combat unit, the place of the operation and the time it will take place.” After noticing his indiscretion, Haaretz reports, “Facebook friends then reported him to military authorities.”

According an Associated Press report from Jerusalem, “the soldier was court-martialed and sentenced to 10 days in prison.” The A.P. adds:

A military statement added that it is cracking down on soldiers’ use of social networking Web sites and has launched a campaign warning of the dangers of sharing military information online. “Uploading classified information to social networks or any Web site exposes the information to anyone who wishes to view it, including foreign and hostile intelligence services,” the military statement read. “Hostile intelligence agents scan the Internet with an eye toward collecting information on the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), which may undermine operational success and imperil IDF forces.” [...]

In posters placed on military bases, a mock Facebook page shows the images of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. Below their pictures — and Facebook “friend requests” — reads the slogan: “You think that everyone is your friend?”

This news comes just days after the Pentagon announced a new social media policy that will permit American soldiers to use sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to keep in touch with family and friends online. An introduction to the complete text of the new policy on the Department of Defense Web site notes that it is “effective immediately” and “states that the default for the DoD non-classified network (the NIPRNET) is for open access so that all of DoD can use new media.”

That said, the Pentagon, like many employers, says that it wants to reserve the right to put limits on how soldiers use the Web while on the job. The introduction to the new policy states:

Under this new policy, there will be open and consistent access across the board, but prohibited content sites (gambling, pornography, hate-crime activities) will still be blocked. Also, Commanders at all levels and heads of DoD components will continue to keep networks safe from malicious activity and take actions, as required, to safeguard missions.

Service members and DoD employees are welcome and encouraged to use new media to communicate with family and friends — at home stations or deployed — but it’s important to do it safely. Keep in mind that everyone has a responsibility to protect themselves and their information online, and existing regulations on ethics, operational security, and privacy still apply. Be sure never to post any information that could be considered classified, sensitive, or that might put military members or families in danger.

The Pentagon Channel also posted this video on its Web site last week to remind military personnel to be careful about what they share online:

As the Pentagon acknowledges, “Prior to today, the Services and other DoD components developed and implemented their own ad hoc policies — some banning it all together.”

Last year, Wired’s Danger Room blog reported that some overzealous commanders had even blocked access to a very tame official site called TroopTube, after military personnel were directed away from YouTube.

[Utah Bob]

Israeli defence chiefs have moved to tighten internet social networking rules after photographs appeared showing sensitive military subjects.

A review of Facebook pages belonging to Israeli troops found that some had posted detailed pictures of air bases, operations rooms and submarines.

"These are things we don't want the public to see for security reasons," an official source told the BBC.

Posting photos of troops in uniform - a popular pastime - is still allowed.

The new set of rules - which has not been made public - includes a ban on images of pilots and members of special units, and anything that shows specific military manoeuvres.

Rite of passage

The defence ministry launched its inquiry earlier in the year to check the potential security risk in the dozens of social networking groups dedicated to life in the Israeli military.

Compulsory military service is a rite of passage experienced by large numbers of young Israelis and in recent years they have shared their experiences through photos and web-posted accounts of their activities.

Israeli soldiers on graduation march, 01 April 2008
Posting photos of troops in uniform - a popular pastime - is still allowed

"There's a lot of illegal photography inside the Israeli Defence Forces, including the Israeli Air Force," a source inside the air force told the BBC.

"Most of the soldiers don't understand how much damage it may cause," the source added.

Militants in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories are believed to monitor Israeli web forums and communities, including Facebook and the photo sharing site Flickr, to get information.

Enthusiasts

The military source, who cannot be identified, says a few of his comrades are authorised to take pictures at their bases and to post them on Flickr.

Every photo is vetted by military censors, and the ones considered appropriate are assured a warm reception by the many enthusiasts of military hardware in the online photo-sharing community.

But the defence ministry says military tribunals have investigated and disciplined about 100 soldiers who broke the rules and unwittingly helped the enemy this year.

It may seem a large number, but the defence ministry source said: "Considering the number of soldiers there are with social networking websites, it is a tiny proportion."

The worst offenders were punished with a month in jail for particularly egregious posts, while others were warned they would face similar punishment if they re-offended.

Source

[Dozer523]

Some soldiers will do anything to avoid going to the field someone beat you to this

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

Some soldiers will do anything to avoid going to the field someone beat you to this

Dang, and I even did a search!
Shoulda done Facebook instead of Israeli.

Oh well.