No "Friend Invites" for MySpace or YouTube for U.S. Troops

[thunter34]

Since the 12000, er 10000, er.....1200...ah, hell:  Since that other thread is played out, here's something else for us to bitch back and forth about.  

Citing security concerns and technological limits, the Pentagon has cut off access to sites like MySpace and YouTube for personnel using the Defense Department's computer network.

The change limits use of the popular outlets for service members on the front lines, who regularly post videos and journals.  (Hmmm......)

There's the bone.  Now fight for it, dogs!  Fight!  


http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/05/14/military.sites.blocked.ap/index.html


Seriously....discuss.

[milker]

But they still have access to porn 

Milker.

[Miss Philicia]

Well, since a fellow AIDSmeds board member attempted to hack my account here via some myspace proxy site I can fully understand the technological security concerns of the illustrious US military.

[jack]

how big is the bone

[milker]

Well, since a fellow AIDSmeds board member attempted to hack my account here via some myspace proxy site I can fully understand the technological security concerns of the illustrious US military.

Yes I was thinking about that too

Unless the military blocks all blogs and reads outgoing email before allowing it to go, I do not see how blocking Youtube and myspace lower the "security threat". Those blocks have nothing to do with security, and I find it stupid for the military to let people think that all the soldiers do in Iraq is watch YouTube and myspace pages...

Milker.

[thunter34]

We certainly have come a mighty long way from the days of "loose lips sink ships" though, haven't we?

[jms79]

Well, since a fellow AIDSmeds board member attempted to hack my account here via some myspace proxy site I can fully understand the technological security concerns of the illustrious US military.

huh?

[purpledragonfly]

I think the reason for the governmet to ban myspace is because there has been so many active millitary people speaking out on the war. If the men and women that are over there fighting for this country are not behind the war it would look bad. So if they can't post about it on myspace, the stupid gov. thinks no one will know. I just wish that we could get Bush out of office before next yr.

Wendy

[ACinKC]

I agree with the purple one.  Consider this more damage control by the administration.

[thunter34]

how big is the bone

If the bone doesn't satisfy, there's always my Kibbles & Bits.

[jack]

just a bone will do.
communications from soldiers to Friends and family back home has been screened since the beginning of time. It is done to keep the enemy or those who support the enemy from gathering intelligence.  I am just guessing, but it seems like it would be a nightmare to attempt to screen all cyber communications so it just easier to not allow them. Can you imagine the uproar if US military had to go and screen all you tube and myspace garbage? I am surpirsed it has taken them so long to do this. On second thought, I am not surprised, the cow is out of the fucking barn so its time to lock the door. 

[Iggy]

Well, since a fellow AIDSmeds board member attempted to hack my account here via some myspace proxy site

I didn't know that was possible - but you have no idea how many questions that information answers for me regarding others' website....and my personal info.

Thank you

[Miss Philicia]

I said "attempted"... not that the was ultimately successful.  And a lame attempt it was at that.

[thunter34]

I'm thinking philly might need to elaborate a bit on that here since he made the post above.  I see it's (understandably) raising attention.  I do not believe the integrity of THIS site was compromised in any way.  Shenanigans on MySpace do not suprise me.   I generally hate that site.  Only keep one little toe in that pool because I have a few contacts there that my lazy ass has failed to establish through other routes.  Gotta get on that one.

Oh, and btw...I have to say that while I do see the bad PR limitation as being a delightful side-effect of shutting down some of these sites for troops, I am not all that suprised or outraged personally.  Whatever feelings I may have about the war in general, I think such limitations are to be expected if one is a servicemember.  I actually found it more suprising that they HAD these things initially than that they are losing them now.

EDIT:  thanks for clarifying, philly.

[Dachshund]

Ladies, knowledge is a dangerous thing....


http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/15/pentagon-youtube/

[Miss Philicia]

Well, in relation to the recent Walmart-IN sock puppet, there was an attempted hack of scoring my password via the "forgotten password" request function on this board.  Of course, all that does is generate an automated email to whatever email account I have registered for this board, with an embedded link to obtain my password, BUT this automated email also records the IP number of the person that made the request.  I compared this number with the one that shows up in my System Preferences/Network stuff and it was not my own IP number, so I ascertained that possibly someone was trying to screw around with my account.  I PM'd the moderators about this and they verified my suspicions and that it came from a myspace proxy... lame the things some kids will do in this day and age, isn't it?

Of course, I think pretty much any web board is set up to do what this one did with the password request so I suspect the sock puppet was just trying to cute... who knows

Oh, and of course myspace is most excellent for locating tattoo'd Brazilian boys that are known stalkers, even if it happened 15 years ago.  *sigh*

[whizzer]

DOD is pretty damn picky about what you can and cannot view on their computers.  Even accessing the Weather Channel website will bring up a stern warning on inappropriate use of DOD resources.  They weren't so picky several years ago but have become extremely so of late.

Sorry Milker, but porn is a definite no-no.  They monitor what websites individuals visit and smack you if you're naughty.

Troops can still post on MySpace, as well as any other venue online, they just can't do it from a DOD computer or network.  This essentially eliminates the ability of individuals on ships and in warzones from accessing certain areas of the web, and gives them the ability to ban posting in certain places,since DOD computer access is all they have.  I don't think this idea is necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but since the pentagon seems to be posting it's own war-favorable YouTube vids, I see this as a propaganda move.

E-mail is screened.  Before e-mail the regular mail was screened, at times censored, and I'm sure it still is.

Just part of life in the military.

-Whizzer
(who knows first hand)