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MoD gags military as soldiers banned from blogging
Last updated at 09:07am on 10.08.07
British soldiers on patrol
The Ministry of Defence has introduced new guidelines to prevent military personnel talking about their experiences as members of the Armed Forces.
Soldiers, sailors and air force members will be prevented from blogging, taking part in surveys, speaking in public or posting on bulletin boards, according to The Guardian.
They will also be barred from playing multi-player computer games and sending text messages, photographs and audio or video material without permission if they relate to defence matters.
The guidelines say "all such communication must help to maintain and, where possible, enhance the reputation of defence", the paper reported.
They come after the row earlier this year about two members of the Royal Navy selling their stories to the media after being held captive in Iran.
Receiving money for interviews, conferences and books which draw on official defence experience has now been banned.
The rules apparently also apply to Territorial Army members and cadets when they are on duty, as well as to civil servants working for the MoD.
Simon McDowell, the MoD's director general of media communications, told the Guardian: "We are trying to give straightforward, clear guidance that is up to date.
"The existing regulations were confusing and didn't include things like accepting payment. It applies to communicating about defence matters, not personal things. Particular things can impact on operational security; information which somebody can get a hold of."
But they have provoked condemnation from service personnel, some of whom immediately turned to online forums to talk about their incredulity and confusion about the clampdown.
One, named ViroBono, quoted the title of the MoD's update on "rules on communicating with the public and the media" before writing: "Surely 'NOT communicating', since this is the clear intent.
"Clearly they have realised that the veracity of everything Ministers say, and MoD's own media people put out, is doubted, and have decided that rather than cleaning up their own act, they'll try to shift the responsibility."
A spokeswoman for the MoD said that the rules were not new, but had just been updated to include details about receiving payment from the media and about the internet.
She said: "These are not new rules. These or similar have been around for at least a decade. They have been updated to reflect the findings of the Hall report (payment and authorisation of media contacts) and changes in communications technology (eg: the growth of the web).
"Most public and private organisations of any size - in the UK and elsewhere - have rules on the authorisation processes to be followed before people speak publicly or to the media.
"They are not unique to MoD. We want our people to speak about what they do, but they must be properly authorised."
Reader views (12)
Can you hear it approaching? The cadence of the marching of the police state...
- Doro, Woodbine, USA
I'm ex British Army and have been blogging for over a year about Iraq and Afghanistan without interference from the MoD. (Though they have blocked me on all their computers.) This is the Government's blatant attempt to stop the REAL truth getting out about British casualty figures and the morale and state of our armed forces! I can understand their concern about operational security but no serviceman will knowingly put their colleagues lives at risk by giving away restricted information to the enemy. This is about censorship of the truth, pure and simple!
- Jon, London, England
It's about time someone woke up to the reality that cameras and blogs during war are more trouble than they are worth. Besides giving away secrets and troop positions, it gives the media and liberal lefties ammunition to claim all soldiers are evil - ala Abu Ghraib.
- Erricz, NJ, USA
This only fuels the fire, when you drive anything underground it has a way of surviving, a bit like a virus. Lets hope all military personnel on mass catch this underground virus and expose the Government's weaknesses and shocking cruelty upon nations.
All military personnel should be fighting a 'just' war and they are not - that's really what the Government is afraid of! They won't get new recruits if people really find out what is going on e.g the use of depleted uranium in weaponry which causes babies in Iraq to be born in a manner you can only call 'hideous'. Mother's in Iraq don't ask anymore what sex the baby is, they ask is it deformed or alive. Babies born with feet coming out of their mouth, or a gaping hole in the torso or no eyes. My God this is going to be their plight for hundreds of years.
- Kim Dixon, UK
Wars are like a chess game and psychological operations are playing an ever increasing role. Those that gather intel look and listen for even the slightest bit of information. Those that know nothing of warfare may not appreciate that fact. Why are special ops so successful; they keep their mouths SHUT. Blogs may be great BUT they can be a REAL source of information for the enemy. Why would we put our fighters at risk? Have we not learned anything from history? Start reading and remembering. In the business world, ideas are not shared with the competition. Why not? Same principle. We want our fighters to have every advantage. Our lives depend on that. Can anyone keep a secret or keep silent? Lives will and have been lost because of loose lips. Think about it, everyone. It is the mouthy person who can cause chaos for others, even in everyday life. Look at the media. Everyone wants to report the story first and sometimes without checking out the facts first. Result...someone gets hurt. And so it is with life and warfare. Think of the ramifications of the things we say, long term and short. In warfare we must have security to be successful.
- Tom, Oakland, CA - USA
No Ken, it's just that some people need to be told to keep their traps shut and not compromise the honour and integrity of the Brittish armed forces or the success of their mission as they stand in harm's way.
Chris
- Chris, Toledo Ohio, USA
Truth is the first casualty of war.
- Duke, Baltimore USA
I'm sure the British people, especially those few and proud that serve in the armed forces, will realize the implications of obeying such an order and will refuse. After all, wasn't the notion of free speech born in England?
- Stephen, Tijuana, BC, Mexico
It just shows how weak the US-UK axis really is. Schopenhauer once stated that the strongest state would be that one which would allow for the greatest criticism. Perhaps the US is a paper lion, a house of cards, which could be blown down by a simple breeze.
- James Aire, London
It's unreal to think they can enforce this and even moreso that they think they should.
- Larry, Atlanta, GA
Bravo. Loose lips sink ships as the WW11 saying goes. Lets stop complaining about freedom of speech. One does not yell fire in a theatre, so why should we be shocked about this gag rule.
- Leonard M., Long Island, Ny
How interesting. So, now members of your armed forces are only free to speak in defence of Iran?
- Ken Lizotte, Bristol, Vermont - USA
