As the Defense Department looks to slash spending, it can start with letting go of its own workers identified as allegedly purchasing child pornography while on the job.
According to reports released by the Pentagon after nearly a decade of investigation, several dozen government employees and contractors, some with top secret clearances, were nabbed downloading child pornography on government computers. We’re curious how the overpaid and CAC-carded picked up the illegal goods when lesser infractions set off information system alarms. Was it a part of some sting? It is known some were caught up in part of a 2006 operation run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Boston Globe reported some workers had been under surveillance since 2002, and some were apprehended in 2006. It is only now the numbers of government workers and their positions are becoming apparent. Several employees and contractors with top secret clearances worked at top intelligence facilities like the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Security Agency. There is concern individuals in sensitive positions could become blackmail targets to conceal their criminal entertainment preferences. Guess that is not an issue now.
The information made available by the Pentagon Inspector General shows some cases have been resolved and others remain open. Some cases have been dropped because of a lack of evidence. The Boston Globe noted that the standards of evidence in such matters are quite high. For example, individuals in the videos must be proven to be under-aged.
The Boston Globe seems to have taken particular interest in this case. The Globe has extensively covered child exploitation and the pedophilia scandals in the Catholic Church.
How secure are government computers from this type of activity? Please share.