WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Pentagon says it is looking at the use of social networking sites so it can establish policies on their use.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday Defense Department officials will determine rules by October on use of sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
Department officials worry sensitive military information could be revealed and that networks could be exposed to malicious software.
Some officials also worry the sites could gobble up bandwidth that should be reserved for urgent military purposes.
The Marines have banned members from using Twitter, Facebook or MySpace on government computers. A new order released Monday, however, allows certain Marines, such as public affairs officers, to apply for waivers to use such sites.
Marines are allowed to access the sites from their own computers.
Lt. Craig Thomas, a Marine Corps spokesman, said Marines are expected not to disclose any confidential information or discuss upcoming operations on the Internet.
"What you do on your own time is your own business as long as you keep to the Marine Corps ethos of honor, courage and commitment," Thomas said.
