Social media: friend or foe?

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.21.2010

Story by Senior Airman Spencer Gallien 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

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Editor's note: This is the final part of a three-part series.

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Over the years, servicemembers have found different ways to communicate with loved ones while deployed. From writing letters home, to telegraphing messages, communication remains vital to the morale and welfare of the warfighter.

As new communication technologies emerge, so do new dangers. Servicemembers must remember that new technologies, specifically Web 2.0, or social media, are tools to communicate with loved ones, yet also tools for enemies to obtain information.

"Social media and emerging technologies provide important venues for publicly communicating the extraordinary things our Airmen do every day," said Col. William Nichols, U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs director. "Clearly, emerging technologies drive us to consider operational security and information resource concerns; we have a responsibility to use those technologies wisely...communicating our stories while protecting operations security and safeguarding personal information is important."

The appropriateness of photos, e-mails and social media Web sites becomes more crucial as technology makes it easier for people to obtain information quickly. By remembering a few rules of thumb, service members can avoid releasing information that may prove detrimental to missions.

"I always consider everything I say and write to be on-the-record," Nichols said. "Today, our communication, especially electronic, is instantaneous and public; as Airmen, everything we say reflects on AFCENT, the Air Force, the Department of Defense and our Coalition partners. That brings extraordinary opportunities to talk about what we do and how we support operations in this area of responsibility."

"Reminding ourselves that we're always on-the-record also forces us to consider and mitigate security and information resource concerns as a matter of habit," he added.
Service members can also avoid violations by taking time to think about what they say — or blog, Twitter or Facebook, said Nichols.

"The guidelines we've followed for years about the Internet and e-mail usage are the same principles we use for social media — be aware that what's posted is immediately accessible and reflects either positively or negatively on the individual and our entire team. It's about the basics — be mindful of maintaining operations security, safeguarding privacy information and avoiding offensive material."

Although there are inherent dangers when it comes to releasing information through avenues such as social media, there are also many positives to the technology readily available today.

"We've had the opportunity to host dozens of international media outlets covering AFCENT operations throughout this area of responsibility. The journalists who use social media forums post their stories immediately and they're instantaneously available to a worldwide audience," said Nichols. "I've also met Airmen of all ranks who maintain blogs about their deployed experiences — those firsthand entries are real and credible, and they reach people who don't necessarily read traditional newspapers. Those blogs sometimes generate news pegs for larger stories by mainstream media — it's all interconnected."

Until recently, many social media Web sites we're banned from Air Force networks. However, a recent DOD policy stated that service members will be able to view certain Web sites from their government-networked computer.

The new policy authorizes DOD members to access social networking Web sites and other Web 2.0 platforms from non-classified government computers. However, the Web sites must not compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites.

The DOD policy also allows commanders to temporarily limit access as required to maintain operations security or address bandwidth constraints. It also prohibits malicious activity on military information networks and denies access to sites promoting prohibited activity such as gambling, pornography and hate crimes.

"This directive recognizes the importance of balancing appropriate security measures while maximizing the capabilities afforded by 21st-century internet tools," said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, who signed the DOD policy.

David Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for information management and technology, emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in using unclassified military networks to access these tools.

"There's a huge imperative for security," Wennergren said. "It is everyone's responsibility in the department to make sure they are doing all that they can to protect our information and our information systems."

Whether Airmen are accessing Web sites from a government, or a personal computer, remaining cautious when posting information that is instantaneously available remains vital to security.

"We have access to some incredible technology that allows us to tell our individual Air Force and AFCENT stories instantaneously and globally — we should all be able to tell our colleagues, families and friends about what we do as Airmen and the extraordinary opportunity we have to be part of something greater than ourselves; it's a matter of doing it responsibly," said Nichols.

Editor's Note: This story contains contributions from Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service, "New policy authorizes social media access, with caveats."