NEWS: UK Secrets Site Censored by D Notice Committee

The UK Defence Advisory Committee (D-Notice) have apparently asked the operator of a Stockport (UK) site to close.

24 June2004: The operator of the Stockport-based site has removed it today due to public and press furor. The operator asked Cryptome to remove the link to the site from this file and another long-standing link to it from Cryptome's Eyeball series index.

The site operator was told several times in recent days by the UK D-Notice Committee that nothing on the site was illegal but today the Committee agreed that it was best to close the site.

Alan Turnbulls
"Secret Base" Page
homepage.ntlworld.com...

Acording to the Gloucester Echo newspaper, the the information held on sites such as this "could be of immeasurable help to terrorists".

TERROR IS ONE CLICK AWAY - EXPERT
10:30 - 24 June 2004
Defence expert Tony Mason has hit out at military enthusiasts for revealing secret information about GCHQ on the internet.

The Cheltenham-based Air Vice Marshal spoke out after security experts expressed fears that Army fans may have inadvertently breached the Official Secrets Act. One Stockport-based site includes extensive photographs of the past and present GCHQ buildings in Cheltenham, and also reveals an SAS training area in Herefordshire.

The high-security military communications base at Defford, Worcestershire, is also subject to scrutiny.

The details and photos have been published on unofficial websites.

www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk...

The web-site Cryptome has mirrored the site without approval of the site.

cryptome.org...

It remains to be seen whether other UK sites will be asked to self censor following requests from the Defence Advisory Committee. This could be the start of a censorship campaign in the UK, just as the new Freedom of Information Act comes into force in 2005.

zero lift

[edit on 25-6-2004 by zero lift]

[edit on 25-6-2004 by John bull 1]

The following is taken from the Defence Advisory Committee website.

1. Public discussion of the United Kingdom's defence and counter-terrorist policy and overall strategy does not impose a threat to national security and is welcomed by Government. It is important however that such discussion should not disclose details which could damage national security. The DA-Notice System is a means of providing advice and guidance to the media about defence and counter-terrorist information the publication of which would be damaging to national security. The system is voluntary, it has no legal authority and the final responsibility for deciding whether or not to publish rests solely with the editor or publisher concerned.

2. DA-Notices are issued by the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee (DPBAC), an advisory body composed of senior civil servants and editors from national and regional newspapers, periodicals, news agencies, television and radio. It operates on the shared belief that there is a continuing need for a system of guidance and advice such as the DA-Notice System, and that a voluntary, advisory basis is best for such a system.

Anyone wishing to find more information on the activities of the UK Defence Advisory Committee (D-Notice Committee), and the D-Notices currently in operation in the UK, should visit their website at:

www.dnotice.org.uk...


zero lift