Twitter is banned for eight generals of the Brazilian army

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Army has expanded restrictions on posting official profiles of the institution on social networks and banned eight four-star generals from maintaining Twitter pages.

The decision is contained in an order issued July 19 that went into effect on August 2. Under the new directive, Twitter can only be used by Army leadership and the 8 area commands. The restriction on four-star generals also includes posting videos on YouTube.

“Communication by parts of an institution on Twitter is not effective because it does not recognize the authority of the entire institution,” the order states. “The act of following or liking third-party profiles and posts is considered an endorsement or approval of the opinions expressed,” warns the document published by the Army Chief of Staff. Functional profiling is also prohibited.

“It is prohibited for institutional profiles of military organizations to follow personal profiles and/or share and like their postings,” the order states.

Linkedin has even more restrictions than Twitter. Only Army leadership is authorized to access the social network.

Isolated units and troops are prohibited from maintaining a Facebook page. However, they are still authorized to post on the social network Instagram – a medium that focuses on posting photos and videos and allows almost no debate of a political nature.

According to the regulation, the change was necessary because of the lack of personnel dedicated exclusively to social networks.

The decree also states that “instructions should be carried out in all Army military organizations to raise awareness of security in the field of information technology and communications, including the use of social media by the military.”