Secrecy News: DoD Avoids Web; Science and Security
Secrecy News: DoD Avoids Web;
Science and Security
About
Secrecy News
SECRECY NEWS is an email publication of
the Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
Project on Government Secrecy. It provides
informal coverage of new developments in secrecy,
security and intelligence policies, as well
as links to new acquisitions on the Federation
of American Scientists web site. It
is published 2 to 3 times a week, or as events
warrant. Secrecy
News Article Index
The Defense Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) has
adopted a new policy that would sharply limit the types of
information that may be posted on its web site, Defense Week
reported.
Not only will classified information be banned from the web, as
always, but so will all other information that has not been
"specifically approved for public release," as well as
"information that is of questionable value to the general public."
The draconian new policy was first described in "Pentagon IG Sets
New Policy on Web Information" by John M. Donnelly, Defense Week Daily
Update, December 18, reposted
with permission here.
A copy of the new OIG policy statement, dated December 5, is posted
here.
In one sense, all of the Inspector General's publications are "of
questionable value to the general public." Few members of the
general public are likely to read the OIG's detailed audit
reports. But they are often of great value to the press and
public interest organizations that specialize in defense policy.
Whether the OIG realizes it or not, the new policy could damage its
own interests first and foremost. That is because the OIG derives
much of its influence and authority from the fact that its
findings are published and made widely available. Without the
leverage offered by publication, the OIG investigative and
oversight function will only be weakened.
AAAS
ON SCIENCE AND SECURITY
Science and national security in the post-9/11 environment is the
urgent subject of a new web site presented by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science.
"The site provides a contact page for individuals to report ways in
which they or their colleagues have been affected by post-9/11 security
policies. It also provides overviews of five major security-related
issues facing the scientific community and links to related projects
at other organizations," according to project director David G. Cooper.
Read more.
