Posting Pics, storys gotta go through Chain of command..

[patt]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/09/28/tech-milblog-060928.html

Canada's top soldier has ordered military personnel to obtain authorization from their superiors before putting any information online.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier fears that troops may be revealing sensitive details of military operations through their internet activities, potentially jeopardizing missions as well as the lives of personnel or their families.


"[Canadian Forces] members are to consult with their chain of command before publishing [Canadian Forces]-related information and imagery to the internet, regardless of how innocuous the information may seem," Hillier's order reads.

The order applies to blogs and other personal websites,

"This is something that the military has had to deal with since 2002," when Canada sent troops to Afghanistan, Lieut. Adam Thomson, an Armed Forces spokesman, told CBC News Online.

He noted the policy has "been a long time in the making.

"We realized that blogs are more influential than we knew," he said.

The general order, which was posted to an Armed Forces internet discussion forum, was not based on any specific incident, Thomson added. He confirmed that the full text was posted to the online message board.

"Operational security is paramount," the Canadian Forces general order says.

"It is incumbent upon all [Canadian Forces] members to consider the potential for creating risk to themselves, their families, their peers and the mission by publishing information to the internet.

"Such information or imagery may, either individually or in conjunction with other information, provide expert analysts insight into [Canadian Forces] current operations, equipment, capabilities, tactics and intentions, or may provide information that puts personnel in specialist roles or their families at risk."

The order states it is "intended to ensure [Canadian Forces]members, the chain of command and specialist advisors at all levels are aware of the risks inherent in making some types of information or imagery available to the wide audience using the internet, and of the measures to be taken to prevent such risks."

"This is not meant to reduce [Canadian Forces personnel's] access to the internet or ability to stay in touch with family and friends," Thomson said, echoing a line in the order.

However, the order also states that the chain of command, particularly in a theatre of operations, "has the authority to restrict access to the internet if it is deemed essential to maintaining operational security.

 

[Trinity]

The general order, which was posted to an Armed Forces internet discussion forum, was not based on any specific incident, Thomson added. He confirmed that the full text was posted to the online message board. 

Hrm..........  that us?? 

 

[aesop081]

The CANFORGEN on this has been out for about 2 weeks. Nothing new here........

 

[the 48th regulator]

Armed Forces internet discussion forum

Jeebus,

First a garbage man was a Sanitation Engineer now freaking this...

I wonder what was the rank of the person who came up with that fancy moniker...

Shall we start a pool?

dileas

tess

 

[orange.paint]

Kind of a broad spectrum

"[Canadian Forces] members are to consult with their chain of command before publishing [Canadian Forces]-related information and imagery to the internet, regardless of how innocuous the information may seem," Hillier's order reads.

That would go for inside tank pics,and pics of exercises I would think alsr maybe they just made it that general so they can control it better if they see something they don't like.

Maybe Mike will have to get a PAFFO working full time on the site!

 

[MPIKE]

Hrm..........  that us?? 

For sure.. CBC has taken the liberty of having the direct link back here..
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/41136.0;prev_next=prev

 

[The Bread Guy]

...not to mention the last "more" on the story ("Hillier draws a bead on blabby blogs") on the CFC Spotlight on Military News web page:

http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/spotnews_e.html

 

[Cloud Cover]

Just a note on this subject. It is a condition of posting on this site that you not breach OPSEC and other rules that apply to you as a member of the armed forces, or if there are other rules which also apply to you in your civilian capacity.

5. Services and Prohibited Uses of Services
... You will not:

q. Violate the applicable laws and principles relating to Operational Security, Communications Security and Personal Security as set out in the National Defence Act, the Security of Information Act and any other statute which, without limitation, deals with similar matters of information security.

This obligation is broad and applies to all members of this site, including former members who contribute retain residual information that has not lost its currency or value and must therefore still be treated as OPSEC.

If you post something and we think it is an intentional or malicious act, don't expect this site to have your back. By using this site, you will have been notified that we will cooperate with any bona fide law enforcement investigation, including an NIS investigation. 

Do not hesitate to Beadwindow an offending post and hit report to mod right away. Do not quote the post in your own response, for that adds one more post to be removed.

Finally, note the cbc link to this site. That should tell you something right there. If the CBC is watching, so is the enemy.

w601
 

 

[3rd Herd]

Maybe the powers that be should have a little more "news" than what comes via Can West. Notice the headlines are always the same.

 

[mudeater]

This is from today's Globe and Mail

Bloggins can kiss that unfettered blog goodbye.

The country's top soldier, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, has ordered ordinary Joes in uniform to check with their superiors before posting information on the Internet.

A Canadian Forces general order issued this month indicates troops, “particularly those deployed on operations,” have recently placed a “considerable” amount of information on the web.

Besides weblogs, military personnel have sent commentaries via e-mail and uploaded still and video imagery of their missions.

“(Canadian Forces) members are to consult with their chain of command before publishing CF-related information and imagery to the Internet, regardless of how innocuous the information may seem,” says Hillier's order.

“The chain of command has access to expert advisers, such as public affairs and intelligence staffs, who will ensure that such published information is not ultimately prejudicial to CF operations and personnel.”

There is a “risk inherent in making some types of information or imagery available to the wide audience using the Internet,” says the order, which has been posted on the web.

Maintaining the safety of Canadian troops is the reason given for Hillier's order.

“Operational security is paramount,” it says. “It is incumbent upon all CF members to consider the potential for creating risk to themselves, their families, their peers and the mission by publishing information to the Internet. Such information or imagery may, either individually or in conjunction with other information, provide expert analysts insight into CF current operations, equipment, capabilities, tactics and intentions, or may provide information that puts personnel in specialist roles or their families at risk.”

The order also warns troops they “have a responsibility to ensure that any information or imagery they share with a third party who may not share CF operational security concerns is not of such a nature that it could create risks if published.”

The order indicates the military doesn't intend to restrict Internet access to soldiers, sailors and airmen.

“Within generally well-understood limits, CF members are entitled to communicate with friends, family and colleagues, as are all Canadian citizens.”

But there is a threat implied in Hillier's missive.

“The CF chain of command, particularly in a theatre of operations, has the authority to restrict access to the Internet if it is deemed essential to maintaining operational security,” it says.

The order is “a friendly reminder” to troops to be careful about what they put on the Internet, said Capt. Mark Gough, an army public affairs officer in Halifax.

Soldiers posting snapshots from a war zone could give their enemies possible routes to attack Canadian positions, Gough said.

“Five years ago, you'd never see a soldier bringing a little tiny camera into the field that's no bigger than a cigarette pack, and now everybody's got them,” he said.

Gough said he's even used videos posted on YouTube.com of Canadian soldiers raiding a Taliban stronghold and Canadians caught in a Taliban ambush.

They were part of a presentation he made to Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald's cabinet.

“It's graphic in the sense that it shows the fighting,” Gough said. “It shows people that this is not a peacekeeping operation. These guys are in combat.”

Hillier's order came directly on the heels of an incident in which a soldier from Kitchener, Ont., who is serving in Afghanistan posted complaints about military equipment on his weblog.

Pte. Matt Austin was reportedly ordered last month to remove any posts from his blog that mentioned operational activities or equipment.

Military officials were unable to say Wednesday if Hillier's order was linked to the private's blog postings.

It's not uncommon for military brass to demand operational silence. In May, the navy told sailors aboard HMCS Fredericton to keep quiet about the frigate's role in a drug sting off the coast of Africa that netted 22.5 tonnes of hashish destined for Canada. Sailors who got to make telephone calls home from the ship for compassionate reasons were supervised.

The Halifax-based ship's 217 crew members were allowed to write e-mails to their families, but they couldn't send them from their own computer desktops. Instead, the messages were collected and presumably monitored before being sent out twice a day.

 

[FredDaHead]

I'm not sure I understand correctly... Do I have to notify my CoC every time I want to post something on my blog, or just notify them that I have a blog? Well, they already know I have it, but... yah. And I'm at RMC anyway, what could I possibly post that could have any repercussions? A rant on how I hate marching?

 

[jonsey]

My understanding is they want posts run past them before they're put online, but I'm just a civvie.


Honestly, though, I would have thought this would have already been in place.

 

[cplcaldwell]

Para Alfa

Do not hesitate to Beadwindow an offending post and hit report to mod right away. Do not quote the post in your own response, for that adds one more post to be removed.

+1 MEGA

Para Bravo

0.02

Self enforcement is the key.

The Chief telling us just that (ref: milnewstbay's post, link now stale).

There are QR&O's, CFAO's and DAOD's on this subject.

The references are available via the triple-w no need for d-net to find the guidance, google it.

Due diligence.

Ref Jonsey's; last post, yeh, my friend they've been in place for a longg   time.

All: Make it your business to find out what they are...or STFU.

 

[Armymedic]

Exactly right,

Its not new, just because you are typing it onto the net, vs talking on a phone doesn't make it alright to tell everyone exactly what and how you've been doing things while on deployment.

We (the Army) need to smarten up a bit on OPSEC and PERSEC. The first step is not worrying yourself with everyone else's business and what they are doing.

 

[cplcaldwell]

Its not new, just because you are typing it onto the net, vs talking on a phone doesn't make it alright to tell everyone exactly what and how you've been doing things while on deployment

Why else would the amazing Bobbitt have given us this exchange? Self discipline is the key...

PM's exist for a reason.... For all you know I'm OBL 'hisself'......

You got buds, tell em, there's no need to tell me (and the rest of the galaxy).

STFU

As usual, General Hillier makes sense.

 

[orange.paint]

I suggest if your a serving member who posts regularly on this board take the time to go back through your posts under your profile.Personally posting for fun here does not make getting charged worth while.I personally took near 40 minutes to view all my post just to ensure nothing was OPSEC.Important if you have been posting for a while,may not remember everything

If I did come across something I'm sure the mods could have deleted it.

Anyone else see this as future problems for this site?

Mike comments?

 

[Menace2Auth0rity]

Obviously, some people have "crossed the line" in the past, so now there is no line at all. However, I do have to wonder, if a soldier wants to post a picture of say, him and a couple of his army buddies on base, I wonder how long of a response time there would be before he'd know whether or not he was allowed to post the picture?
Another funny thing, when my brother came back from Afghanistan, during the Psyc thing he had to go through, he was TOLD to talk about the mission. Obviously not classified information (positions, missions details, new weaponry, theories, strategies, blah, blah, blah,) But he WAS told to speak generally of his experiences in Afghanistan with his friends and familly.
Mind you, I feel a good soldier knows what to say and what not to say as jeopordizing a fellow soldier's safety is somthing NO good soldier would risk.
Also, I guess these rules eliminate a topic I wanted to start about how to camoflage one's self (for deer hunting purposes) in a specific type of terrain, seeings it's something that is taught to soldiers.....  :-\