Embedded with Facebook: DoD Faces Risks from Social Media
Abstract
U.S. service members are increasingly jeopardized by information posted on social network websites. While some of the most damaging information comes from spouses and other non-official sources, other information comes from the use of social media by the DoD because non-public, secure channels for questions and feedback do not exist. Other problems arise from the conflict between the DoD's desire to promote its mission by distributing information to a world-wide audience and the ability of adversaries to misuse that information. We have conducted a study of information posted on Facebook and other social media websites and have determined that it is relatively easy to correlate the DoD official records with online profiles, allowing the targeting of specific warfighters. We summarize several cases in which the public disclosure of information led to mission compromise and suggest ways for improving current policy and practice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA542587
Entities
People
- Aaron Pickett
- Kenneth N. Phillips
- Simson Garfinkel