Citing security concerns and technological/bandwidth limits, the Pentagon has cut off access to 13 digital media sites for personnel using the Defense Department’s computer network, reports AP. The sites are YouTube, MySpace, MTV.com, iFlim.com, Metacafe and others. The change limits use of the popular outlets for service members on the front lines (Iraq etc), who regularly post videos and journals.
It does not affect the Internet cafes that soldiers in Iraq use that are not connected to the Defense Department’s network. The cafe sites are run by a private vendor, FUBI (For US By Iraqis). It also doesn’t affect soldiers’ own private computers.

The Pentagon said that use of the video sites in particular was putting a strain on the network, and also opening it to potential viruses or penetration by so-called “phishing” attacks in which scam artists try to steal sensitive data by mimicking legitimate Web sites.  The full memo from Pentagon is here.