WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Defense Department blocks access to popular networking sites

Defense Department blocks access to popular networking sites

By Scott Harvey

(LOUISVILLE) -- Many members of the military use the popular social networking website MySpace to keep in touch with friends and family while they serve overseas, but effective Monday the military began blocking that site and several others from troops. WAVE 3's Scott Harvey has more.

The Defense Department will begin blocking access "worldwide" to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular Web sites on its computers and networks, according to a memo sent Friday by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander. 

The policy is being implemented to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks, according to Bell.

Col. Phil Miller, with the Kentucky National Guard, says that the sites are being blocked because their usage slows down the government's personal Internet, called the Nibernet.

"People pulling down photos and posting photos up on sites, puts quite a strain on the bandwidth," Miller explained.

Soldiers will still be able to use the sites, as long as they don't do it on government computers.

"Soldiers can still use their home computers," said Miller said. "They can still use the personal computers at the Internet cafes that are set up overseas. It's not preventing them from using those venues."

The Armed Services have long barred members of the military from sharing information that could jeopardize their missions or safety. This new policy is different because it creates a blanket ban on several sites used by military personnel to exchange messages, pictures, video, and audio with family and friends.

The sites covered by the ban are the video-sharing sites YouTube, Metacafe, IFilm, StupidVideos and FileCabi; social networking sites MySpace, BlackPlanet and Hi5; music sites Pandora, MTV, 1.fm and live365; and the photo-sharing site Photobucket.

Online Reporter: Scott Harvey

Online Producer: Michael Dever