Posted under News
The New Line has learned that the Maryland General Assembly, citing security concerns, has blocked Facebook and MySpace from the computers of state legislators and their staffs.
Here is the full text of the memo from Office of Legislative Information Systems Director Michael Gaudiello alerting members and their staff of new policy:
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 5, 2009
To: DLS Staff and Members
From: Mike Gaudiello
Subject: Computer Viruses and Malware
With the beginning of the 2009 Legislative Session, we have observed a significant increase in viruses and malware affecting the Maryland General Assembly computers. After several weeks of analysis, we have determined that many of the infecting programs are originating from pages hosted on www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com. In an attempt to reduce the number of viruses and malware entering the Maryland General Assembly facilities, we have blocked access to both of these sites. As our analysis continues and additional websites are identified as problematic, we will be blocking these as well.
We realize that this may be an inconvenience and we apologize. But it is essential that the integrity of the Maryland General Assembly computer systems and facilities are protected.
Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt, contacted by the New Line, responded: “It is a shame that the dozens of delegates and untold number of staff with official and personal presences on Facebook will not be able to use the service to communicate with constituents, colleagues and friends while at the office.” Schnitt added that the memo “incorrectly asserts that viruses are on Facebook” and suggested that most problems could be solved “by making sure employees run up-to-date browsers.”
Facebook is a popular way for members of the General Assembly to communicate with their constituents. Currently, over 40 state legislators have set up pages on the service.
UPDATE: Maryland Delegates react, are “seriously bummed” about Facebook ban.
UPDATE II: All Facebook, a blog that covers news related to Facebook, calls the banning by the General Assembly “extreme” and “disheartening.”
40 Responses to “Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook”
Alicia on 06 Feb 2009 at 9:06 am #
I believe many government agencies (federal and local) prohibit employees from accessing MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites, in addition to Ebay.
Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook, MySpace on 06 Feb 2009 at 10:31 am #
[...] has prompted the Maryland General Assembly to ban the two services from its computers and networks, according to a local blogger, who managed to get ahold of the memo outlining the ban. The services won’t be available from [...]
jon on 06 Feb 2009 at 10:40 am #
ecause, after all, why would they want to make it easy for people to communicate with politicians and their staffs? it’s almost like they don’t want to hear from millennials or anybody else on social networks …
Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook, MySpace | All about MICROSOFT on 06 Feb 2009 at 11:01 am #
[...] has prompted the Maryland General Assembly to ban the two services from its computers and networks, according to a local blogger, who managed to get ahold of the memo outlining the ban. The services won’t be available from [...]
bub.blicio.us » Blog Archive » Facebook Gets Banned on 06 Feb 2009 at 11:53 am #
[...] has also banned Facebook and MySpace use in their offices. According to a memo obtained by blog The New Line, a glut of viruses has resulted from Facebook and MySpace use. I can’t exactly say I buy [...]
5Words for February 6th, 2009 | Technologizer on 06 Feb 2009 at 11:59 am #
[...] Maryland General Assembly bans Facebook. [...]
Why Did Maryland Block Facebook All Together? on 06 Feb 2009 at 12:54 pm #
[...] viruses and malware that are affecting the computers of the Maryland General Assembly, according to New Line. Michael Gaudiello, who is the Office of Legislative Information Systems Director, sent out a [...]
Ahmad Blog » Blog Archive » Legum’s New Line » Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook on 06 Feb 2009 at 1:48 pm #
[...] the original post: Legum’s New Line » Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook Add this to : Digg it Save to Del.icio.us Subscribe to My RSS [...]
Phil In Denver on 06 Feb 2009 at 2:39 pm #
This guy, Mike Gaudiello is NOT an elected official, he is an IT director. He does not have the right to make a decree of this magnitude if it interferes with the business of legislation, as clearly something like this certainly would do. As an IT director he would report to the head(s) of the Maryland General Assembly. Furthermore, viruses and phishing schemes can easily be blocked with anti-virus software and up to date browsers properly configured.
As an IT director he knows this all to well, so he is either incompetent and not qualified to hold that position, or he is injecting his own personal political agenda into his duties which as someone who serves the entire MGA, are by definition supposed to be non-partisan.
Buckeye on 06 Feb 2009 at 2:53 pm #
This is a great idea and I think that more states and governments should initiate similar policies.
At our business, ebay, facebook, twitter, mySpace, etc. are outlawed and blocked at the router level. Employees are free to post while not at the office and we don’t try to control their lives outside work hours. If they have time to socialize on the net, they’re not being given enough work, and they’re not adding (positively) to our companies’ bottom line. That is the only reason we employ our staff. We’re not some altruistic non-profit.
As a taxpayer, I believe these people can socially interact over the net at lunch or outside of work hours. Let them get some real work done if we are paying them.
BelchSpeak » Post Topic » Banning Facebook on 06 Feb 2009 at 3:51 pm #
[...] it to keep people from coming in off the streets to just check their Facebook status, and the Maryland State legislative offices have banned it for security [...]
Ferodynamics.com on 06 Feb 2009 at 4:13 pm #
You shouldn’t trust any freebie website with official communications.
They should also block gmail, yahoo, hotmail, etc.
Diane K. Kovacs on 06 Feb 2009 at 4:37 pm #
This simply makes clear that they need to upgrade their systems staff. Anyone with a brain knows the viruses didn’t come from Facebook. They are just being bullies and making trouble because they can. Hopefully, they wont’ get away with this ignorance.
Sylvana on 06 Feb 2009 at 4:59 pm #
Hmph. First, a response to Buckeye. Actually a lot of people DO do work including Facebook. It’s a method of communicating with your constituents, patrons, customers and colleagues.
Second, time to Twitter!
Sonja on 06 Feb 2009 at 5:05 pm #
Interesting that an IT director has the authority to select content that our elected officials find helpful and useful as an application. Wonder who blessed him with that much control? Rooted in ignorance methinks (is the IT person in inept that he cannot remedy a virus, one might ask?
This is a terrific template for whom not to hire when looking for IT people. Control-seeking individuals who overstep boundaries and claim security issues to further their own bias. Note to self, when searching for IT staff, make sure paranoia isn’t apparent in the resume. Maryland just moved back a few decades technologically.
Unfortunately, the 150 million people on Facebook might be worth another glance, Maryland. There is great potential for marketing, promotion, relationship building, resource sharing, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Steve on 06 Feb 2009 at 5:41 pm #
As being a Director of IT and having been in the IT field for over 32 years, the bottom line is clear. It doesn’t matter where the viruses come from, Facebook, MySpace, whatever. All this proves is that Maryland’s antivirus protection is severely lacking and horribly inadequate and proving the incompetence of the IT staff. It would be like a grocery store setting a policy to not accept checks anymore because someone wrote one that bounced. How absurd.
Maryland General Assembly Bans Myspace And Facebook | All about MICROSOFT on 06 Feb 2009 at 6:02 pm #
[...] memo, which leaked. (Memos always [...]
Another Steve on 06 Feb 2009 at 6:07 pm #
As another director of IT, Steve is right. Universities like mine would have been out of business long ago, if Facebook or the internet were the treat the Mike Gaudiello believes it is. I wonder what is really going on there.
De Facebook, Facebook y otras cosas no Facebook | POWERPYMES on 06 Feb 2009 at 7:24 pm #
[...] es que algo así se dieron cuenta en el estado norteamericano de Maryland donde su asamblea general ha bloqueado las páginas de MySpace y Facebook de su red de computadoras porque muchas de ellas tienen información que lleva a sitios con virus y [...]
Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook, MySpace | The Click on 07 Feb 2009 at 2:06 am #
[...] has prompted the Maryland General Assembly to ban the two services from its computers and networks, according to a local blogger, who managed to get ahold of the memo outlining the ban. The services won’t be available from [...]
Clint on 07 Feb 2009 at 9:58 am #
While we are at it, let’s ban email and the telephone. And take away their pencils and paper because employees could be writing letters to their friends while at work.
Benjamin Wright on 07 Feb 2009 at 11:12 am #
My research documents reports of the Koobface worm infecting (or attempting to infect) workplace-related computers by way of Facebook. Employers thus have security as a reason to block social network sites. http://computersafety.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/security-threat-facebook-and-myspace-at-work/ –Ben
Steven Harris on 07 Feb 2009 at 6:40 pm #
That should be: integrity IS protected. “of the Maryland General Assembly computer systems and facilities” is a prepositional phrase and not the subject of IS.
Overcoming fear of the New « My Blog on 07 Feb 2009 at 11:08 pm #
[...] real problem for some organizations – Maryland General Assembly even blocked Facebook and MySpace (http://www.juddlegum.com/blog/2009/02/maryland-general-assembly-bans-facebook/). All these concerns might be just another moral panic accompanying new technologies. But I find [...]
Dean K Owen on 08 Feb 2009 at 12:34 pm #
Not knowing the IT folks (director or staff) personally, it’s difficult for me to comment on their abilities to manage the computing environment at their site. In my previous life as an IT manager I was asked to use technology to control workplace behaviours that senior management felt were questionable and that could be managed in other ways. It was just easier to ban something based on costs, workload and/or security threats than to find a way to make it work. Everything from blocking or controlling web access to deleting the solitaire game from windows desktop software loads (”…we pay people to work not waste time playing games…”). What sends up a red flag for me is the line in the memo where they say “As our analysis continues and additional websites are identified as problematic, we will be blocking these as well”. Too bad! Why not spend the time analyzing a way to make it work.
Level 5 on 08 Feb 2009 at 2:08 pm #
You guys are all missing the point. Antivirus software and malware protection is all well and good, however it takes resources to purchase said software and implement it.
That said, do any of you naysayers even know how antivirus software WORKS?
When a new virus is unleashed into the wild, McAfee or Norton or whatever your weapon of choice is does not automatically know what it is, and how to get rid of it. The virus may be less than covert in changing system files which may flag the protection software to block it, but sometimes this mechanism fails. It’s at that point that for these companies to develop a solution to the problem, they need to look at infected machines. Until the software is updated with a fix to new viruses, what happens in the real world. Data is lost, and IT staff must deal with the issue.
!!!!!!!!!!This is paid for WITH YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!
In the midst of a state’s government session, these resources need to be re-allocated to ASSURING that the system WORKS properly. A six day, 60-70 hour work week is not uncommon in Annapolis, look that up. When hardware may go down, and the delegates need their machines to DO THEIR JOB, the last thing IT staff needs to hear is that they must also deal with a virus contracted from someone fiddling around on Myspace (thusly not even doing their job).
So basically, naysayers, you’re telling me that you would rather pay more taxes so that politicians may use Myspace and Facebook, for whatever their reasoning may be. This isn’t about competence, political agenda, or whatever asinine theory you might have pulled out of thin air. It’s about productivity, and resource control.
Read a book, fellas. It’s 2009.
Facebook, MySpace Too Popular For Own Good | Mass Media News - Web News Info on 08 Feb 2009 at 8:52 pm #
[...] reported by Judd Legum, a memo from Michael Gaudiello, Systems Director of the Office of Legislative Information, reads, [...]
Wake Up Call: Facebook Isn’t A Safe Haven on 09 Feb 2009 at 10:09 am #
[...] Maryland banned both Facebook and MySpace from its General Assembly Computers, as they had been the primary sources [...]
Lostsole on 09 Feb 2009 at 2:39 pm #
We should also block Google and Yahoo search engines. The virus’ they are talking about are not on the web site but in the advertising on the right side of the site. This is the same system that is employed by the search engine sites on the web. As cost go up for website hardware and development, more sites will look at subsidizing the cost with ads. Instead of blocking more sites, why not try maintain the anti-virus software that is required on computers within the State’s network.
ArticleSave :: Uncategorized :: Wake Up Call: Facebook Isn’t A Safe Haven on 10 Feb 2009 at 2:02 am #
[...] Maryland banned both Facebook and MySpace from its General Assembly Computers, as they had been the primary sources [...]
Joe on 10 Feb 2009 at 7:13 am #
This is, to quote Frank Zappa (testifying at the infamous PMRC hearings in D.C.), “the equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation.”
It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to educate the DLS staff on how to configure and use both services in a safe manner. (Think defensive driving.) Perhaps MySpace and Facebook will use this opportunity to reach out and help make it happen.
In turn, Maryland would be setting a fine example of responsible social networking for others to follow and build upon.
Wake Up Call: Facebook Isn’t A Safe Haven | 226bw Tech News Blog on 10 Feb 2009 at 9:09 am #
[...] Maryland banned both Facebook and MySpace from its General Assembly Computers, as they had been the primary sources [...]
Mercedes on 10 Feb 2009 at 11:43 am #
Thank the lord, what a productivity waster. Do it from home, wake up!
Laura on 10 Feb 2009 at 11:12 pm #
As an employee in the MGA I admit that I have used facebook at times during work hours. However, as you may understand, we are at work from early in the morning until often late evenings. To take a five minute breather on the computer should not be a major deal to anyone.
Also, with so many legislators having facebook it is another way to foster strong relationships with people in the district. A way to know what their voters are concerned about, what their interests are, etc.
I think the larger issue here is that IT is deciding what the legislators can and cannot do online. They are citizens elected to serve the people in their districts and robbing them of the ability to access their voters through multiple channels is flat out wrong.
Mary on 11 Feb 2009 at 10:11 am #
Facebook is OK, but MySpace is not? That’s just stupid and shows how little “Maryland” understand Web 2.0 and social media! Jeezus.
State News Shot » MD: Legislators Log Back on to Facebook on 11 Feb 2009 at 1:54 pm #
[...] Nothing unites the left and right quite like being cut off from Facebook as Maryland Politics Watch tells us. Is this the start of a national trend? Could this tactic be the key in solving the stimulus issue in Washington? Get even more from Legum’s New Line. [...]
Miss N. Thrope on 11 Feb 2009 at 3:48 pm #
ELEGY FOR MR. GEE
Seen to rudely plod the hall
To have himself look large though small
Followed by the other two
At least one of which hath not a clue
Known betimes as Mike the Knife
He scowls and howls and thrives on strife
His head is packed with plans and plots
His greedy eyes seek out weak spots
Computers rule, so I’m the man
What else can I usurp or ban
Hmm, Facebook, why is that allowed
I’ll claim a virus and they’ll be cowed
Oh, sing a dirge for Mr. Gee
His power grab was sad to see
He made the blogs, he caused a fuss
His hubris made the members cuss
So now his pix with egg-smeared face
Is featured on his own “MySpace”
Oh, sing a dirge for Mr.Gee
His grip’s not what it used to be.
UnClueLess on 13 Feb 2009 at 10:32 am #
As a current IT Director, most of the naysayers here are uneducated in the field of information security. I especially like the ones that say, “IT doesn’t have the right to block legislators from interacting with their constituents.” Right – but if I go and protest outside said legislator’s house, I get arrested; thus, the idea that a constituent gets to use “any means necessary” to interact with legislators is bogus.
I especially like Laura’s comment about “robbing the ability to access their voters through multiple channels is wrong” – nice generalization. You know what? As a Maryland taxpayer, you have my permission to call Verizon and get a wireless USB broadband connection and chat that way – but you may not connect your insecure system to the legislative network. What’s up, Laura? Can’t update your FB status at work now? I’m so sorry. Get back to work, Laura.
Second, it’s IT’s job to protect the place electronically, and numerous surveys have shown that the weakest link in security is always the people being protected. One recommendation about “training” personnel above made me laugh – people do whatever they want without regard for security, my friend. For many of these people, if they acted at home like they act online, they’d leave their front doors open at night and invite perfect strangers into their houses, then be oblivious to anything those people did in their homes.
This blog also shows how people apparently can’t read any longer. Mary, the memo says they’re blocking *both* Facebook and MySpace, not just one.
Wake Up Call: Facebook Isn’t A Safe Haven | Technology news on 19 Feb 2009 at 1:25 am #
[...] Maryland banned both Facebook and MySpace from its General Assembly Computers, as they had been the primary sources [...]
Is Banning Facebook or MySpace the Solution? | Complete Source on 19 Feb 2009 at 11:24 am #
[...] to this by Maryland-based blogger/attorney Judd Legum, the state Office of Legislative Information Services [...]