{"id":30512,"date":"2023-11-16T20:03:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T20:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2023\/11\/16\/navigating-the-pentagons-social-media-rules-amid-the-israel-hamas-war\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:04:14","slug":"navigating-the-pentagons-social-media-rules-amid-the-israel-hamas-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/information-warfare\/2023\/11\/16\/navigating-the-pentagons-social-media-rules-amid-the-israel-hamas-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Pentagon\u2019s social media rules amid the Israel-Hamas war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Social media posts about the conflict traveled faster than journalists could fact check, as manufactured myths like the Ghost of Kyiv<\/a>, a flying ace credited with downing six Russian planes, were quickly accepted as truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, the anonymous pilot was proven mythic, but it was nevertheless morale-boosting for those on the ground. And while this case of propaganda may have offered a valuable service to Ukrainians, there remains no shortage of false information muddying truth on social media today \u2014 notably, information pertaining to Israel\u2019s war with Hamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disinformation, misinformation, and deep fakes can be dangerous for active duty service members who use social media. Still, the Defense Department has not updated its social media policies or put out additional guidance in light of the recent conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Pentagon policy<\/a> holds that \u201cDoD civilians and service members must remember their duty to protect DoD information and prevent the unauthorized disclosure of non-public and classified information. Additionally they should be mindful of the power of connected media and refrain from making statements that may appear to represent an official position by the DoD, their Command, or office,\u201d according to DoD spokesperson, Navy Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some might argue having opinions about foreign wars is different than engaging in, say, political rhetoric, for U.S. service members, there is a fine line, according to William Marcellino, senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. And in the case of the Israel-Hamas conflict, there are U.S. troops involved and decisions being made that could impact them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not simply a foreign issue, your fellow brothers and sisters in arms \u2014 especially in the Marine Corps and the Navy and other SOF elements out there \u2014 they\u2019re in harm\u2019s way,\u201d Marcellino said. \u201cThey\u2019re conducting U.S. foreign policy and defense operations there. So, if you\u2019re trying to chime in and spread information, misinformation, disinformation, to do political advocacy work, that touches on U.S. concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t