Squaddies warned off Facebook

Don't be a 'soft' target

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Government, 12th November 2007 11:13 GMT

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British servicemen and women are being warned off social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Advice circulated in mid-October warned service staff not to post "your service connections on chatroom and dating sites". Military bosses are worried that terrorists will use social networking sites to identify and target military personnel.

The warning continues: "Be particularly careful if you are on Facebook, MySpace or Friends Reunited." The document warns that organisations like al-Qaeda will continue to target "soft targets".

The Daily Telegraph found nearly 900 Royal Marines on the site, and 72 members of the Royal Anglian Regiment.