Army officers flout ban on using social networking sites

Kusum Arora/TNS

Jalandhar, July 13
Despite fresh directives issued by the Indian Army banning its personnel from using social networking sites, scores of Army officers are actively using Facebook revealing sensitive information of their status and whereabouts.

This at a time when the Army is already investigating an alleged incident in which a Lt Col based in Rajasthan developed contact with a woman through Facebook. Reportedly, the woman from Bangladesh was working for Pakistan’s ISI.

While the Army has completely banned its personnel from using such social networking sites, the officers have been openly posting their pictures in uniforms, mentioning their status on Facebook like ‘whether on leave or back to field’ and pictures of cantonment functions and colleagues.

Among those using the Facebook include young Army officers. Officers’ wives have also been posting pictures of their spouses on Facebook. A majority of the officers said when they remain away from their families like at field stations, social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut help them to stay in touch.

Many officers have also been using Facebook through fake identities, while some officers have posted their own pictures as ‘profile pictures’ on such sites. As social networking sites are available on mobiles phones and most officers own smart phones, hence the increased usage of these sites.

However, there are many officers who are abiding by the directives and are refraining from using social sites. Some officers are also using these sites with utmost caution. “I have never posted any of my pictures on Facebook, the ones that I have are of my family. Even my profile page is completely blank on Facebook,” said a young Army officer.

The Army has directed its officers to refrain from using social networking sites as it could lead to information compromise and unintentional ‘leaking of sensitive information’.