Ministry of Defence forced to deal with 70 security leaks a week as staff post secret details online
DEFENCE chiefs admit to dealing with 70 security breaches a week.
The biggest blunders saw staff posting ship positions, troop moves and weaponry details on social media.
Passcodes to MoD secure cabinets and an official service ID card were also put on Facebook. Troops now face having phones seized after security incidents trebled in the last five years.
Former Army commander Colonel Richard Kemp warned the details risk falling into the hands of Chinese and Russian spies or terrorist groups.
He added: “These latest statistics show the need for culture change and stringent discipline among service personnel.
"That includes, where necessary, draconian measures such as removal of mobiles and strict control of internet usage.”
There were 4,431 incidents in 2018 — the most recent year for complete figures — but just 1,515 back in 2014.
There have been also 117 information leaks on to social media in that time, with a record 31 in the last 12 months.
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Last week we told how pictures of the Special Boat Service were posted on Facebook, showing faces and equipment used on secret operations.
Other breaches include RAF personnel posting classified information of aircraft damage.
The MoD said: “The increase in incidents is attributed to an increasing readiness to report even minor breaches — not to systematic failings.”
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