PENTAGON ESTABLISHES TOUGH WIRELESS RULES
The Dept. of Defense released a long-awaited policy on the use of wireless phones and other wireless devices on military installations, saying the devices shouldn’t be used to store or transmit classified information and unclassified information should be encrypted. Wireless phones and other devices wouldn’t even be permitted in areas where classified information is “discussed or processed” without written approval. The policy went into effect upon release.
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Under the guidelines, DoD requires encryption of unclassified data to and from wireless devices. DoD also recommended that unclassified voice transmissions be encrypted when possible. VoIP calls would have the same requirements as other data transmissions. The requirements for encryption are fairly specific: DoD said it should be implemented end-to-end and over an assured channel, following Federal Information Processing Standards. DoD said exceptions may be granted to the encryption requirement on a “case-by-case basis” by the designated approving authority. In general the rules apply to all DoD personnel, contractors, and visitors to bases.
The rules are stricter for classified information. The policy says: “Wireless devices shall not be used for storing, processing, or transmitting classified information without explicit written approval.” DoD also mandated that portable devices that can be connected directly to a DoD wired network not operate wirelessly when connected. Officers charged with carrying out the policy are to submit recommendations within 180 days to the DoD chief information officer on making legacy systems conform.
The new policy, Directive 8100.2, follows by 2 years issuance of a DoD policy on wireless transmission of data within the Pentagon.
The wireless industry was still studying the details of the policy late Mon. A Pentagon spokesman said that despite at least one published report, the Pentagon hadn’t barred the use of camera phones on military bases in light of the photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
“It is the theater commander’s prerogative to supplement Pentagon guidance,” the spokesman said. “In this case, if Gen. Abizaid or his commanders felt that allowing such devices into the prisons had resulted in holding prisoners of war up to public ridicule -- he would certainly be in his rights to restrict any such devices in the prisons or any other sensitive facilities.”