Facebook as security risk in SAS

Social media is a problem for various armies worldwide. You can exchange real-time information with friends and acquaintances. Photos, videos, audio, and even location data, all with just a click on your smartphone. It's understandable that there are rules for soldiers everywhere that prohibit this.

It's all the more scandalous when this is bypassed by elite units. This is what happened with members of the British Special Air Service (SAS). Images from current operations have now ended up on Facebook. Shown here are SAS and Special Boat Service (SBS) on an operation in Iraq or Afghanistan. British Special Forces with a dog. SAS on a mission, presumably in Afghanistan.

An internal investigation is now underway to determine how this could have happened and how such images were transmitted. It should always be remembered with such images that they not only reveal information about current equipment but also about where and with whom the units are operating. The problem is not new, of course. A few years ago, DEVGRU was very active on Facebook and Navy SEALs are always worth a post on social media.

The British Army on the Internet: www.army.mod.uk