American news portal The Guardian was blocked by the decision of Pentagon authorities because the resource published secret documents of the U.S. Department of Defense. For some time users could visit only main page of The Guardian, they were also redirected to it when trying to navigate through the sections. However, it is known that the website can not be accessed via Army computers.
The decision of the authorities was motivated by the need to protect the “integrity of unclassified government information systems.”
On June 7, The Guardian stuff received a memo with a following comment:
“Classified information, whether or not already posted on public websites, disclosed to the media, or otherwise in the public domain remains classified and must be treated as such until it is declassified by an appropriate US government authority. It is the responsibility of every DoD employee and contractor to protect classified information and to follow established procedures for accessing classified information only through authorized means. Leadership must establish a vigilant command climate that underscores the critical importance of safeguarding classified material against compromise.
Accordingly, we request all DoD components send prompt notification to your employees and contractors reminding them of these obligations. Procedures for responding to classified information found in the public domain are attached…”
The Guardian periodically publishes information that must not be distributed, and despite the fact that these documents are made public, they maintain secrecy.
Representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense also point out that if someone managed to gain access to secret information, they should immediately clear the browser cache. Otherwise, it can be interpreted as disribution of secret information.
