Military
increases Web monitoring

In response to increased Web monitoring and security by the U.S. military, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is warning gay and lesbian service members to choose their Web activity prudently.

The SLDN cautioned that a military agency, the Army Web Risk Assessment Cell, is monitoring "official and unofficial blogs and other Web sites" as well as checking Web site visits for members of the military.

According to an Associated Press article, soldiers are now required to register their blogs with their commanding officers. The SLDN has since posted guidelines on its Web site to help LGBT service members, as online information indicating they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender would be grounds for dismissal from the armed forces.

The SLDN advises service members not to access sexually related Web sites on a military computer, to erase cookies and history regularly, and not to indicate which branch or base they are affiliated with. (The Advocate)