Data Management

DOD Moving To Adopt Limited Social Networking

The Pentagon's on-again, off-again relationship with social networking looks like it's <a href="http://fcw.com/articles/2009/08/20/navy-social-networking.aspx">on again</a> ... maybe ... as Navy CIO Robert Carey says that social networking tools will be deployed solely on the military domain and cut off from the public Internet.

Mitch Wagner, California Bureau Chief, Light Reading

August 21, 2009

2 Min Read

The Pentagon's on-again, off-again relationship with social networking looks like it's on again ... maybe ... as Navy CIO Robert Carey says that social networking tools will be deployed solely on the military domain and cut off from the public Internet.

"There is a powerful opportunity inside the dot-mil domain for these tools," Carey said in a speech hosted by the market research firm Input.
DOD officials need to figure out where it is appropriate for information on the Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network to be shared with social networking tools on the public Internet, Carey said.
For example, military public affairs and recruiting staff members need to use social networking on the public Internet, he said. "But as far as the work-based environment, is it better to have all that stuff inside the family?" Carey asked.

Carey also said that earlier reports that the Marines have banned social networking are inaccurate; he said the Marines allow social networking in exactly the manner he'd earlier described: Inside the firewall, with social networking outside the firewall allowed on an as-needed basis. Wired's Danger Room blog reported the social networking ban, the blog also reported that the entire Defense department is considering following the Marines' lead. On the other hand, Defense Secretary Robert Gates cited social media as an important strategic asset for the U.S., and expressed concern that America is losing the social media war.

Carey met with social networking providers including representatives from LinkedIn and MySpace, and said the DOD is considering deploying those technologies for the DOD's private use.

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