MILITARY PERSONNEL TOLD TO RESTRICT SOCIAL MEDIA USE.
• Canadian military personnel at one of Quebec’s largest bases are being warned they could face charges if they hit the “like” button on certain material posted on social media.
They are also being told to restrict access to their own social media sites and are prohibited from commenting publicly on any political decision, an order that encompasses everything from local politics to nonmilitary federal and provincial issues.
Personnel at CFB Bagotville, Que., are being required to sign a document acknowledging these rules. A witness signature is also required. Forces personnel sent Postmedia a copy of the rules, noting they had been threatened with charges by a commanding officer for questioning the legality of what they saw as severe restrictions on personal freedoms.
But the Canadian Forces says there is nothing unusual about the form.
“Education is a good practice,” spokeswoman Capt. Marie- France Poulin said in an email. “The aim of this internal procedure is really to make sure that 3 Wing personnel know their personal responsibilities/ laws, etc. about social media use and especially operational security rules.”
She said there were no security breaches or other issues that prompted the creation of the new document.
Rules concerning social media and public commentary vary for the army, navy and air force, according to the defence department.
The army has asked its members to f ollow general rules when using social media, including refraining from derogatory comments and avoiding comments that could violate operational security, the DND noted in an emailed statement. It has also asked its members to check privacy settings regularly. But the army does not require its soldiers to sign a form regarding those rules, the statement noted.
The navy has si milar rules. But only personnel on the West Coast are required to sign a form acknowledging those rules.
In March of 2014, the air force issued direction on social media, noting the existing military rules about public comments.
“Commanders at each air force Wing have the authority and latitude to brief their members on the finer points of orders and directives when deemed necessary — whether related to social media use or otherwise,” the DND statement said. “Commanders at various units or wings may — at their choosing — require expressed acknowledgment from members, such as a signature on a form, as a record of confirmation from those who have reviewed the information.”
Ottawa l awyer Michel Drapeau said the Canadian Forces form is a sweeping attempt to stifle any right for military personnel to have an opinion on any subject. “What does it matter to the military if you want to comment about an issue in your community that has nothing to do with the Canadian Forces,” asked Drapeau, a retired colonel. “Will you be charged if you want to post a complaint about a local bylaw, for instance?”
Drapeau said such a form would never survive a legal challenge in civilian court or during a court martial. But military personnel could face administrative punishment from their commanding officers, something that would be difficult to defend against, he added.
In 2013, the Canadian Forces required physically and mentally wounded soldiers to sign a form acknowledging they would not criticize senior officers on social media outlets or discourage others in uniform with their comments on such sites as Facebook and Twitter.
In addition, the wounded were told not to disclose “your views on any military subject.”
The Canadian Forces denied that the form was an attempt to stifle criticism.