Indian naval officers face dismissal over Facebook posts

NEW DELHI // Three Indian navy officers are to be dismissed from service over their Facebook updates which reportedly included details about where their vessels were docked, an official said yesterday.

The Navy has recommended the discharge of the officers for "violating information security" after a high-level internal probe was conducted, a navy spokesman said.

"The board of inquiry has recommended disciplinary action against three officers. Action for their termination of service is under process," PVS Satish said, without elaborating further.

Local media reports said the officers had posted details of the movement of their ships despite strict instructions forbidding the disclosure of such sensitive information on social networks.

"They posted details of the movement of these ships to various ports," the English-language Pioneer newspaper said quoting unnamed officials.

The paper said it was the first ever disciplinary action of its kind.

Facebook was also in the news in India recently when a 47-year-old man was arrested for selling his newborn grandson to a businessman in a deal struck over the popular social networking site.