israeli army in facebook clampdown!

Facebook? A social networking tool - but apparently also a social destructive tool! Again, just as with every other tool in the online PR toolbox, things need to be thought through. What seems to have an obvious advantage at first glance might have a serious disadvantage. Just ask the Israeli defence chiefs!

Just watched Sky News a few moments ago (see timing of post at the bottom) and they were running a story of an Israeli soldier so keen to impress with his access to strategic weaponry and information on Facebook that the Isreali military has ordered a "clampdown" in Facebook activities on behalf of their soldiers. The BBC website gives a good account of what this is all about:

"Israeli defence chiefs have moved to tighten internet social networking rules after photographs appeared showing sensitive military subjects. A review of Facebook pages belonging to Israeli troops found that some had posted detailed pictures of air bases, operations rooms and
submarines.

"These are things we don't want the public to see for security reasons," an official source told the BBC. Posting photos of troops in uniform - a popular pastime - is still allowed. The new set of rules - which has not been made public - includes a ban on images of pilots and members of special units, and anything that shows specific military manoeuvres."