TSA Internally Blocking Websites With 'Controversial Opinions'

[ElNono]

TSA to Block "Controversial Opinion" on the Web
July 3, 2010 12:53 PM

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.
The email was sent to all TSA employees from the Office of Information Technology on Friday afternoon.

It states that as of July 1, TSA employees will no longer be allowed to access five categories of websites that have been deemed "inappropriate for government access."

The categories include:

• Chat/Messaging

• Controversial opinion

• Criminal activity

• Extreme violence (including cartoon violence) and gruesome content

• Gaming

The email does not specify how the TSA will determine if a website expresses a "controversial opinion."

There is also no explanation as to why controversial opinions are being blocked, although the email stated that some of the restricted websites violate the Employee Responsibilities and Conduct policy.

The TSA did not return calls seeking comment by publication time.

[Wild Cobra]

So? they are blocking this from agency computers.

[ElNono]

Right. I'm just wondering what fits under 'Controversial Opinions' and who gets to decide what that criteria is.

[MannyIsGod]

Really it doesn't matter because those are computers you would use on company time. I'm not sure I really want many TSA employees surfing the web anyway. I see no problem with this unless they're completely blocking one side of the political spectrum while not blocking another but I really doubt thats the case.

[ElNono]

Really it doesn't matter because those are computers you would use on company time. I'm not sure I really want many TSA employees surfing the web anyway. I see no problem with this unless they're completely blocking one side of the political spectrum while not blocking another but I really doubt thats the case.

Well, that's the thing. Sounds like an incredibly vague criteria. IE: Can you be terminated for doing that?

All the other stuff blocked makes absolute sense and is pretty much boilerplate in a corporate/government run environment.

[Stringer_Bell]

Kind of a non-issue, people shouldn't be on the internet at work anyway. If they can't read Glenn Beck, Rachel Maddow, and watch clips of Larry King's latest annoying interview with someone that has an opinion...good, they need to worry about the box cutters potentially in the next bag they check.

Plus, TSA is just a bunch of kids in their early 20s that show up to work hungover playing National Security Expert. It's disgusting.

[ElNono]

Plus, TSA is just a bunch of kids in their early 20s that show up to work hungover playing National Security Expert. It's disgusting.