Facebook, Flab & Fashion Faux Pas
You have read it here more than once: whatever you put on the Internet could potentially be seen by the world. Apparently, the wife of the head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service doesn’t realize this. Rather, she didn’t when she posted pictures of her very important husband, a la James Bond, on Facebook. Maybe Sir John Sawers is taking his role as Britain’s top spy too far. James Bond he is not. However, does this fashion faux pas really indicate a breach of security? Opinions are varied, but concrete.
According to a July 5, 2009, article by Jill Lawless of the Huffington Post, David Miliband, the outspoken British Foreign Secretary, chocks it up to nothing more than Sawers’ having an innocent day at the beach, albeit attired Rio de Janeiro fashion. However, some members of Britain’s government feel the matter is far more serious than a few harmless family photographs. A prominent foreign affairs spokesman charges the incident “verges on reckless”.
Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, also know as MI6, was not even officially recognized by the government until the early nineties, when they also first released the identity of the command post’s top official. Unlike the American public, who have historically felt an inherent entitlement to any an all affairs within the government sector, the Brits have only recently begun to shed the cliched views of those involved in domestic and international espionage.
When the story first broke, the consensus of most news publications across the pond seemed to be the only fallacy committed falls under the jurisdiction of the fashion police. However, it has come to light Lady Shelley Sawers revealed the location of the couple’s London home, as well as the whereabouts of their children and Sawers’ parents. Obviously, this muddles things a bit. While no state secrets were revealed along with Sawers’ affinity for showing off his startling untanned chest and flabby musculature, the information revealed by Lady Sawers could likely compromise the safety of Sawers’ family. Some top members of Britain’s government have called for an inquiry into the situation.
According to Michael Evans, Defense Editor of the TimesOnline.com, Sawers is not the first public official to suffer this sort of subversive public scrutiny. However, had he not assumed the responsibilities of the post he will begin to command in November, the pictures and information wouldn’t be such a problem. The fact that Sawers, who has now stepped into the international espionage arena, will always be a target for terrorists and other international criminals is the clincher. While members of intelligence agencies and other various government organizations are not barred from using social networking sites such as Facebook, they are stringently warned not to reveal any details about their lives that could put them or the integrity of Britain’s defense system at risk.
Trina L. Grant is a freelance writer and international events reporter. You can find more information about social networking and world events on her website.
Posted in Social Networking. Tags: facebook
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