US Navy orders social media purge of personal info to protect troops, families

U.S. Navy has ordered troops and their families to remove personal information on social media.

The announcement came from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, who urged them to purge social media details that could be used against them.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service termed the initiative ‘Epic VIGILANCE', an initiative focused at protecting troops and their families.

Cao labelled the threats part of a broader, ongoing pattern, not isolated incidents, “deliberate effort to gather intelligence, test our defences, disrupt our operations and intimidate our force.”

Service members are urged to turn their account settings to “private” and remove posts that contain personal details or ties to the Navy.

The Department of the Navy also advises service members to disable location services on all social media platforms.

The announcement also highlights that enemies are using social media to gather Americans’ private info through doxing, surveillance, and harassment.

Cao’ initiative of 'Epic Vigilance' also warns of escalating dangers, including drone spying and even physical attacks.

The U.S. Navy personnel have also been instructed to report any suspicious activity, such as being followed, snapped, or sent weird texts online.