Department of defense to block troop access to Myspace, Youtube, MTV, Blackplanet , photobucket and

[donsu]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_rob_kall_070512_department_of_defens.htm


Starting May 14th, the Department of defense, citing security reasons, will block troop access to some of the most popular websites on the planet.

Here's the link they provide:


Restricted Access to Internet Entertainment Sites Across DoD Networks

The Department of Defense has a growing concern regarding our unclassified DoD Internet, known as the NIPRNET. The Commander of DoD's Joint Task Force, Global Network Operations has noted a significant increase in the use of DoD network resources tied up by individuals visiting certain recreational Internet sites.


The sites blocked include Myspace, Youtube, MTV, Blackplanet , photobucket, live365, hi5.com, pandora.com, 1.fm, and other sites.

The troops WILL be allowed to access the sites from home computers. But, since most troops on assignment in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, etc. are using DOD networks, they would not be allowed to use THEIR personal computers on DOD networks.
-snip-
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this will go over well

[Old and In the Way]

1. Democracy for everyone!

Except the troops.

[MADem]

4. Ain't that the sad truth. nt

[n2doc]

2. I guess Free Republic, Malkin, O'reilly, and Rush will have to do for them!

:sarcasm:

[MADem]

3. BE interesting to learn if those sites are blocked.

Photobucket, though? YOUTUBE? What is wrong with these assholes?

[merh]

10. They don't want the troops posting the truth

actual images of their sites and activities. They don't want them to be able to let us know what it is really like over there.

[dogday]

5. What are we fighting for?

Don't ask me I don't give a damn
Taking away all my rights
Give me one good reason why I should fight.....



It absolutely sucks what they are doing to our soldiers.....

[booley]

6. Doesn't the pentagon have a channel on You Tube?

Doesn't the pentagon have a channel on You tube, obstensibly to give the 'real version" of things in Iraq.

Is it cynical to think that this will not be blocked?

In fact, is it "silly" of me to think that since we have not heard of any security breaches as described by the DOD as the reason for this, the REAL REASON might have more to do with making sure that nothing contradicting the DOD's message comes out from the troops in Iraq?

[MADem]

15. Yes, they DO, in fact!! Fucking putzes!! Good point you made, there. NT

[flyarm]

7. yes they are fighting over there so the enemy ( our government )takes their rights away over there!!

AND THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THOSE IN OUR GOVERNMENT ... WHO HATE OUR FREEDOMS, and theirs!!

and no one seems to get it..but a mere few of us...who keep fighting daily for all our rights!..without guns but with computers, signs , and our voices.

fly

[merh]

8. I've already seen the effect this policy has had

there are loud pro-military posters on other sites that have been very quiet. They can't waste my tax dollars posting from their desks touting their military knowledge and greatness. They actually have to work for the government.

They have been the voice of the military, purporting to know the truth (yet totally unaware of DOD press releases and regulations), telling everyone how swimmingly things are going in theater.

I find the policy disturbing, but at that same time, the liars have to work for a living. :evilgrin:

[Rosemary2205]

9. Wait a minute here.

Are they doing this to stop soldiers from posting information that could put soldiers at risk (like videos showing troop locations etc) or are they claiming they can't afford the bandwidth to pay for both communications with family and entertainment surfing (oh boohooohooo we need our unfettered money from Pelosi right fucking now)

Or are they actually doing this to stop soldiers from badmouthing Bush -- which doesn't seem like it would be very successful.

[lazer47]

13. After tet of '68 the DOD did the same thing with news reports

GIs were"discouraged" from speaking to the press, and news was censored that was broadcast on AFVN.

[Posteritatis]

25. Most of the ones listed are pretty bandwidth-intensive

A couple links from the article, you get the full list:

2. To maximize the availability of DoD network resources for official government usage, the Commander, JTF-GNO, with the approval of the Department of Defense, will block worldwide access to the following internet sites beginning on or about 14 May 2007: youtube.com, 1.fm, pandora.com, photobucket.com, myspace.com, live365.com, hi5.com, metacafe.com, mtv.com, ifilm.com, blackplanet.com, stupidvideos.com and filecabi.com.

("Stupidvideos?" Hee.)

Given the list, it really does sound like "just" a bandwidth issue to me, albeit with annoying secondary effects; I think all of those are primarily devoted to streaming video or audio except for Photobucket, which is starting to get into that itself.

If they were trying to shut down blogging, either for political or security reasons - more than they have with last month's regulations on posting online, that is - then they'd be fools not to go after Blogger, Livejournal, Facebook, I'msureI'mforgettinganothermajorbloggingsite, and a double handful of major forums.

I'm sure the blocks will be worked around within the next twelve minutes anyway. ;)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. This sucks

Many of the solders use myspace, etc. to keep in touch with people when they're on assignment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. The army owns you

That was what my hubby said when he got out and was offered a lucrative incentive to re-up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. What took them so long?

Not defending them, but this is THE COLD REALITY... in the army you have no rights, and you are GI.

Yep this will have a sucky effect for morale, but a sodler might give away info he or she shoudl not, by accident

Hey... it is called OpSec and the easiest way to undestand this, if this was WW II, loose lips sink ship... got it.

And all this blather about Freedom of speech in the army is just poppycock from a bunch of civilians who have NEVER served, I don't care what side

That is why they NEED US to speak for them

[Ghost in the Machine]

16. I wonder how the DoD stop them from going to other, lesser known sites?

Would it be possible for someone (like me) to use one of my domain names that's just sitting there doing nothing and redirect it to myspace, youtube, etc?

Hmmm... just think about it. What if I redirected www.railcarart.com (don't click, nothing on the site, just a domain name I own) to go to youtube, or even DU? Would the DoD be able to trace it?

[lazer47]

17. All they would have to do is send a test text message

Just once and they would shut it down for you

[Ghost in the Machine]

19. What if I actually set the site up with some content

which I was planning on anyways, but just put a discussion forum on there also?

I have a cousin and a friend who both work for the railroad and they take pictures of all the trains they see with graffiti on them, along with tunnels, bridges, etc., and we were going to put them on this site, along with photo albums so taggers could upload their own pictures if they wanted to.

There's *got* to be a way we can keep our troops in touch with their families and friends.

edited: for spelling like a freeper

[lazer47]

22. Keeping in touch with family and friends is one thing

but if they find it to be what they would call "distributing subversive information" they will shut it off. It is what "controlled media information" is

[sodenoue]

26. There is a way

Remember that 'Cipher' program released by some university to allow people within countries where internet access is censored to view restricted content? Basically what happens is that the 'user' (our soldiers) connect to your site and send it (your site) their content. Your site then encapsulates the data and transfers it to wherever (youtube, photobucket) and executes the desired action, then retrieves and reformats the results, tunneling them back to your site for display. The 'user' visits your site and your site visits myspace or whatever. You might find some black hat PHP programmer to write that application for you or to modify one that already exists (you could also ask any kid who accesses the internet regularly from behind a firewall, as they may know a workaround) Good luck.

[peacetalksforall]

18. So now lousy equipment, irrational ratios of pay vs merconaries,

lies about their deaths, diseases, crimes, and heroics, inferior and missing equipment, extended extensions extening out many years, benefit withdrawal surprises - so, so on top of all that - they are entertainment and knowledge prisoners - DENIED! WRITE SOLDIER ON THEIR FOREHEAD - THEY ARE DE - NIED!

[jwirr]

20. When they censored during Vietnam there were ways around it.

Would some of you vet mind enlightening us? I seem to remember there was something like WWII Tokyo Rose on the radio?

[lazer47]

23. Most of thr time the Freq. was jammed

[libnnc]

21. Myspace is a way for them to communicate with family

and friends.

How sweet of the DOD to cut off the troops from the only reliable communication available. :nuke:

[MsKandice01]

24. I know quite a few military wives and families...

Who use MySpace to communicate and share pictures, videos, etc. with their loved ones who are deployed. How heartless can these people be??

[Ghost in the Machine]

27. I guess the DoD would *really* have a fit if I used www.militaryunderground.com

and used this script on it. http://www.2coolcode.com/ourspace/index.shtml

"The #1 solution for your online community web sites. Our Space is easy to use, easy to customize, and packed with advanced features only found on top community sites.

It's like YouTube, MySpace, Photobucket and Yahoo Groups, all put into one!"

I like the idea myself... anyone else?