OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

July 18, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR

• SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
• CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
• UNDER SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE
• DIRECTOR, DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING
• ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE
• GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• DIRECTOR, OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION
• ASSISTANTS TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
• DIRECTORS OF THE DEFENSE AGENCIES
• DIRECTORS OF THE DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES

SUBJECT: Establishing and Maintaining a Publicly Accessible Department of Defense Web Information Service

The Internet, in particular the World Wide Web, offers an unprecedented opportunity for the Department of Defense to communicate with the American people. With those opportunities also come new challenges. This policy document addresses several important issues related to the use of the World Wide Web as a medium for providing public information to a global audience.

The following principles of information, signed by the Secretary of Defense on April 1, 1997, govern the release of defense information in all forms, including publicly accessible web information services and other publicly accessible areas of the Internet. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs has the primary responsibility for carrying out these principles.

It is the policy of the Department of Defense to make available timely and accurate information so that the public, Congress, and the news media may assess and understand the facts about national security and defense strategy. In carrying out the policy, the following principles of information apply:

• Information will be made fully and readily available, consistent with statutory requirements, unless its release is precluded by current and valid security classification. The provisions of the Freedom of Information Act will be supported in both letter and spirit.
  
• A free flow of general and military information will be made available, without censorship or propaganda, to the men and women of the Armed Forces, and their dependents.
  
• Information will not be classified or otherwise withheld to protect the government from criticism or embarrassment.
  
• Information will be withheld only when disclosure would adversely affect national security, or threaten the safety or privacy of the men and women of the Armed Forces.
  
• The Department’s obligation to provide the public with information on its major programs may require detailed public affairs planning and coordination with other government agencies. The sole purpose of such activity is to expedite the flow of accurate information to the public: propaganda has no place in Department of Defense public affairs programs.

The policy established in the document "Establishing and Maintaining a Publicly Accessible DOD Web Information Service" (Attachment) is effective immediately. In the future, it will be released as a DOD Directive and Instruction.