The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has filed a Freedom of Information Act suit against the Army and its blog monitoring unit called AWRAC (Army Web Risk Assessment Cell). The EFF claims the Army is censoring blogs, and it wants to know how blogs are found and how they are contacted when something violates OpSec or policy.

MilBloggers aren’t like your normal blogger. A lot of our job can get someone hurt or killed if the tightest of security isn’t maintained. It is too easy to give out little bits of information here and there that add up to a lot of information that could wind up in the wrong hands. MilBloggers have to be vigilant with their writings, and it is the duty of the Army and the rest of the DoD to make sure someone isn’t putting my life in danger with their careless writing.

There are also concerns for good order and discipline within units. You can’t allow one member of a command to publish remarks that could affect good order and discipline. Mission effectiveness beings to break down, and you run into the problem of injuries and death. There is really no way to win with careless writing.

On the other hand, it is very important that the First Amendment is honored for all citizens, including the military. The First Amendment is a very fine line for those on active duty, and special care must be taken. I have never heard of anyone censored on a website or blog or expressing an opinion, however I have seen Marines face nonjudicial punishment for inappropriate remarks about those in his chain of command and contempt for officials.

MilBloggers must realize that they take a certain bit of risk when they blog. As the Army has shown, there are people watching when you least expect it. The EFF lawsuit probably won’t get very far, but I’m sure it will force some sort of official direction to come down from the high levels of the DoD on blogging.

h/t MilBlogs