TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

July 6, 2010

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is apparently blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including Internet sites that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.

The email, which was sent to all TSA employees from the Office of Information Technology on Friday afternoon, said that as of July 1 TSA employees would not be allowed to access websites that have been deemed "inappropriate for government access" in five different categories. These categories include chat or messaging, "controversial opinion," criminal activity, extreme violence (which apparently includes cartoon violence) and gaming.

The email doesn't apparently define what a lot of this content is in particular and it most certainly doesn't mention web sites by name, though I would imagine sites with strong opinions about the government are on that list. The email did say that some of the restricted web sites violate the "Employee Responsibilities and Conduct policy."

Source: CBS News

Posted in

Censorship

Comments

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by Kojiro on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 12:30.

This is news? Corporate America has been doing this for over a decade. About time government kept up. The internets can be very distra...

...sorry my boss just came by, gotta go!

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by mdo7 on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 11:37.

Well I don't mind they do this. People who work sometime get a little lazy by going to website at time when they are supposed to be doing work not having playtime on your job.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by Baruch_S on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 01:07.

For some reason, I don't feel sorry for them. Maybe it's because now, instead of spending time surfing the Internet at work, they might actually have to do the damn jobs my taxes pay for. I actually have to work to get that money, so I don't feel too sorry for someone losing his forum access at work.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by asmodai on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 18:11.

I staunchly support the rights for people to use their own bandwidth as they wish (part of why I'm so against the Australian gov's net filter program) but when someone else is not only paying you to work but paying for the bandwidth, you follow their rules.

I don't disagree that the rules seem draconian but the staff really do have complete freedom here. They can choose to work for another organisation that will let them browse to wherever (or, ya know, buy a smartphone... = )

I would have thought that with all the threats being fretted about (little old ladies carrying large bottles of hand cream and all that) that the TSA wouldn't have enough time to scratch themselves let alone sit around browsing the web... ; )

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by ecco6t9 on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 16:34.

Freedom dies a little more...

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by Baruch_S on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 01:09.

What is this nonsense? This has nothing to do with freedom. These people can still access whatever websites they want from their own computers on their own time. What this is about is stopping employees from wasting time and taxpayer money fooling around online when they're supposed to be doing their jobs. There's no right to be on your favorite Internet forum when you're supposed to be working.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 21:31.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize the Constitution protected the rights of government employees to do things WHILE AT WORK that have absolutely nothing to do with their jobs.

---

With the first link, the chain is forged.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by Sora-Chan on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 13:40.

Personally? They're at a government job and they don't need to be doing that kind of stuff at work.

unless its a really slow day :P

seriously though they shouldn't be needing to do that stuff while at work.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by killatia on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 12:03.

I wonder what website are under then controversial option. Also why does the article give me the impression that they aren't banning pron sites from TSA computers.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by Chris Kimberley on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 14:03.

I'm sure porn is covered under their "Employee Responsibilities and Conduct policy."

===============

Chris Kimberley

===============

Chris Kimberley

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 11:07.

I'd like to see a list of some of those 'controversial opinion' websites, if only to determine if the list is a blanket, stifling both sides of the political spectrum, or if it's following someone's agenda - liberal or conservative. If either, it better be the former.

---

With the first link, the chain is forged.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: TSA Blocks Employee Access to 'Controversial Web Sites'

Submitted by LAG - Law Abidi... on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 11:01.

I'm sure that websites teaching efficient methods of goose-stepping are not on the banned list. What's interesting is that gaming and "controversial opinion" are listed, but not porn? I guess we all know what they're REALLY looking at on that "x-ray monitor"!

***Homicide-free video gaming since 1972!***

Poll

Shout box

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am

Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am

Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm

Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm

Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: quiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm

quiknkold: REBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm

IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm

BearDogg-X: http://www.politickernj.com/65515/lesniak-ruiz-bill-limit-children-s-exposure-media-violence-clears-senate - Bill requiring schools to publish pamphlets with anti-fake media "violence" propaganda clears NJ Senate05/15/2013 - 2:03pm

quiknkold: I am thinking of writing a musical about videogames, violence, and the first amendment. Would need a collaborator though and would kickstart it after the script is written. was thinking off broadway.05/15/2013 - 2:00pm

All shouts

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