MASTER REPORTERS GLOBAL NEWS
Bringing to you Breaking news from around the gloh
The Russian parliament has voted to ban soldiers from using smartphones while on duty, after their social media use raised issues of national security.
The bill forbids military personnel from using a phone with the ability to take pictures, record videos and access the internet. Soldiers also cannot write about the military or talk to journalists.
More than 400 of 450 lawmakers in Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, backed the law on Tuesday. Phones with basic calling and messaging facilities could still be used, but tablets and laptops would also subject to the new ban.
Soldiers’ social media data has allowed open-source journalism sites like Bellingcat to expose secret military activity by Russian forces, sometimes in real time. The bill must now be considered by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
Russia is not the first country to take steps to introduce stricter digital practices for military personnel following security issues.
US military security concerns were raised when a fitness tracking firm showed the exercise routes of military personnel in bases around the world – including in Syria and Afghanistan during conflict time. US soldiers are still allowed to use social media, but must follow guidelines.
.
Share this
Drop your comment below
Copyright ©2019 Master Reporters All rights Reserved.
0 comments: