Military gets new social media policy in wake of attacks

Canadian Forces members salute during the National Day of Honour on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, May 9, 2014. (Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Members of Canada’s National Defence staff and Canadian Armed Forces are being asked to remove any reference to their employment on social media profiles, “especially photographs of military personnel in uniform.”

The Canadian Forces Counter Intelligence Unit - Western Region issued a new directive regarding social media practices to soldiers and staff on Friday, two days after a reservist guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa was shot dead.

The staff bulletin was prompted by a recent increase of reports made to the unit’s western branch of military personnel -- or their family members -- receiving “friend requests” on Facebook.

In addition to adjusting privacy and security settings on their personal profiles, military personnel are being asked to search their children’s social media contact lists and delete any profiles they do not know personally.

“Adjust your privacy / security settings so only your friends can view your photos / timeline, etc.,” the directive said. “Repeat this procedure with family members (siblings/elderly parents/children, etc) who are not familiar with security or privacy settings.”

If members continue to receive “friend requests” from unfamiliar people or “suspicious characters” they are urged to notify their local military police detachment.

Soldiers were also provided with Facebook and Twitter “smart cards,” which provide visual steps on how to adjust privacy and security settings.

Following the killings of two soldiers earlier this week, the Canadian Armed Forces ordered military personnel to avoid wearing their uniforms in public. Miltary officials eased the order on Thursday, saying soldiers may wear their uniform on their way to and from work.

From the social media bulletin:

Part of the Canadian military's guidelines on Facebook.