TSA Responds to Web Blocking Memo

By: CBS News Investigates
Topics: News

**Updated Blog 8:20 pm, 7/6/10: TSA Reverses "Controversial Opinion" Web Policy

Responding to a story first reported by CBS News on Saturday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today said it, "uses a security technology to limit access to categories of web sites that pose an increased security risk. TSA does not block access to critical commentary about the organization..."

According to an internal email obtained by CBS News, the TSA implemented a new policy blocking its employees from accessing any websites that contain a "controversial opinion" on work computers.

"This policy is terrible," said Louis Maltby, President of the National Workrights Institute, a non-profit group that advocates for workplace rights. Maltby points out that anything on the internet could be deemed controversial and if blocked, in some cases, could cross the line of violating a worker's right to information.

Employees of the TSA, responsible for nation's airport security, were informed of the new policy Friday in an internal memo. The memo states that websites with a "controversial opinion" are "inappropriate for government access" in addition to any websites that have "Chat/Messaging", "Criminal activity", "Extreme violence (including cartoon violence) and gruesome content" and "Gaming" - all of which are now being blocked.

In response, the TSA sent the following statement to CBS News Tuesday:

"TSA routinely makes improvements to our information technology systems to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats to keep our systems secure. As part of this continued effort, TSA uses a security technology to limit access to categories of web sites that pose an increased security risk. TSA does not block access to critical commentary about the organization and in fact expressly created the TSA IdeaFactory and the TSA Blog to promote diverse opinions. TSA employees will be able to access web sites required for work purposes."

In additon, a TSA spokesperson says the "TSA Blog was founded in 2008 to engage the public in an open dialogue and is open to both the public and employees."

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by yngar10 July 6, 2010 4:50 PM EDT: Well that is sure a non-response. Did the memo only ban websites critical of TSA? It seems it was regarding a broader category of 'controversial opinion', with the limits of that definition set by ????. Since my comment did not get posted on the original story, I'll try making another point: if TSA management is concerned about productivity, why are shopping sites (eBay, Amazon) not on the list, as well as pornography, as many have pointed out. As for security, that is their job. Shouldn't at least some workers be searching the internet for potential dangers, which may be found in 'criminal activity' websites, or am I missing something?; Reply to this comment

by OmegaWolf747 July 6, 2010 3:45 PM EDT

The TSA is fuller of crap than I thought they were. I hope the TSA employees bring their smartphones to work so they can continue to have unfettered Net access.

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by consh8theusa July 6, 2010 4:56 PM EDT: And I hope that any caught doing personal entertainment on government time are fired.


by LETSLAUGHNOW July 6, 2010 10:24 PM EDT: you DO NOT access to internet for your personal purposes when you are working. If you do, you shall be fired, period.