The UK Ministry of Defense has experienced the leaking of classified information via social networking sites 16 times in the past 18 months, according to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by F-Secure and Lewis Communications.
The majority of computer networks administered by MoD do not allow users to access social networking sites. However, a limited number of ‘cyber cafes’ are set up, particularly in deployment zones abroad, allowing free access to the Internet.
The US military in recent months has explored what policies should be in place surrounding the use of social networking sites. While the sites prove useful in connecting military personnel with their families, the propensity for classified and sensitive information being distributed is high.