Corps lifts ban on social networking sites - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Corps lifts ban on social networking sites

All Marines can now access popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at work, and they don’t even have to apply for a waiver to do so.

Marine Administrative message 181/10, which dropped Monday, officially lifts the previous ban on social networking, giving Marines the access they need to check their personal e-mail or post blogs online while using the Marine Corps Enterprise Network. The move brings the Corps in line with a Feb. 26 Pentagon policy urging the services to provide access to social networking sites on nonclassified computer networks.

“The Marine Corps understands and embraces the Internet-based capabilities,” said Maj. Gen. George J. Allen, the chief information officer for the Marine Corps, in a statement. “We can collaborate and enhance our business processes, and also provide a level of morale for our force that has never been seen before.”

The message is a significant departure from the previous MarAdmin on social networking, released in August, which called social networking sites “a proven haven for malicious actors and content” and prohibited access on military computers unless an official waiver was granted. Only one waiver had been granted, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

While concerns still exist, Marine officials say they plan to release additional guidelines in the near future that will provide open access to Marines while also protecting the network.

“Unlike organizations that block access to social networking for financial or resource reasons, compromises to the Marine Corps’ Enterprise Network raises serious issues for protecting the safety and lives of our Marines,” Allen said in the statement. “We do have a responsibility to ensure that we use the Internet in a responsible way, and that means ensuring our Marines are educated on information assurance and operations security. This policy will provide the best of both worlds — a trained force that can use the many capabilities of the Internet.”

Here’s a snapshot of the new policy:

• The new access is not restricted to official use. Marines can check their own personal sites as long as they have permission from their commander or supervisor, and it does not adversely affect their official duties.

• Web sites with sexually explicit content, or sites that post hate speech or military extremist activities, will remain blocked.

• Marines also are prohibited from using the Marine Corps logo or Eagle, Globe and Anchor on their personal sites. Officials say they don’t want it to “give the impression of official or implied endorsement.”

Officials say they intend to release an additional message in the near future with additional guidance for Marines, although it’s not clear when that will be released.