An initiative of the Ministry of Defense to introduce restrictions on the military staff concerning the information they post on social networking sites is supported by more than two-thirds of Russians.
MOSCOW, October 9, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study describing the attitudes of Russians towards a draft law banning the military officers from posting information about their service on social-networking sites.
Half of Russians consider it right to restrict the use of social networking sites for certain professions (51%): the share of active Internet users who think so is even higher than the share of those who almost never use the world wide web (57% vs 43%). The ban should be targeted at security service employees such as the Federal Security Service (61%), the military personnel (45%), and policemen (39%).
Russians generally agree that the military should not use the social networking sites to prevent any sensitive information leakage, even accidentally. More than two-thirds of respondents (69%) approve of the idea to ban the military from posting information related to their work in social media; they are opposed by 25% (younger generations, aged 18-24, tend to be loyal; 38% of them do not support the idea).
The former stress that this increases the chances of certain defense secrets being available to the public. Those who disagree with the draft law find it difficult to prove their stance (60% fail to explain why they oppose the draft law); those who have certain explanations believe that citizens should be aware of what is happening and have their freedom of speech.
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on October 4-5, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted for the probability of selection and reflect social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
There is an opinion that certain professionals should be banned from having social media accounts as any kind of information can be available to the public and used by third parties. Others say that any professional has the right to have a social media profile and this is secure. Which statement do you agree with? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who use the Internet on a daily basis | Those who use the Internet several times a week, several times a month | Those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it |
The first statement | 51 | 57 | 45 | 43 |
The second statement | 37 | 39 | 39 | 28 |
Don’t know | 12 | 4 | 16 | 29 |
In your opinion, which professional should not create social media accounts? You can give any number of answers (closed-ended, any number of answers, % of those who agree that certain professionals should not create a personalized social media accounts) | |
| Total respondents |
Security agencies’ officers (Federal Security Service) | 61 |
Military personnel, servicemen under contract | 45 |
Policemen | 39 |
Court employees | 37 |
Top government officials: president, prime-minister | 37 |
Regional and municipal public officials: governor, mayor, etc. | 27 |
Political figures | 26 |
Diplomatic community | 23 |
Lawyers | 19 |
Scientists | 16 |
Teachers. lecturers, educators | 15 |
Health workers | 13 |
Journalists, TV hosts, editors | 9 |
Singers, writers, artists, movie directors | 7 |
Others | 10 |
Don’t know | 11 |
There is a draft law under discussion that bans the military from posting insider information on social-networking websites. This information might be personal or related to a person’s co-workers, departmental affiliation and professional activity, etc. How do you perceive this initiative? (closed-ended, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents е | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Completely approve | 42 | 36 | 41 | 38 | 42 | 49 |
Rather approve | 27 | 24 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 21 |
Rather disapprove | 13 | 27 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 7 |
Completely disapprove | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 15 |
Don’t know | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
What is the reason why you approve of the idea to ban the military from posting professional information on the Internet? Up to three answers are possible (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who approve) | |
| Total respondents |
The data can be a military secret | 49 |
Loose lips sink big ships | 14 |
For the national security | 10 |
Anything related to the military service should not be known to citizens | 7 |
Personal security of the military staff | 6 |
What is that spieling all about? | 4 |
To avoid defamation of the military service; information can be wrongly interpreted | 3 |
To avoid a new recruitment | 1 |
In this case social media should only serve for socializing | 1 |
They tell not only about themselves but also about their co-workers; they will cause troubles to them | 1 |
Army is to serve and not to surf the Internet. | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 18 |
What is the reason why you disapprove of the idea to ban the military from posting professional information on the Internet? Up to three answers are possible (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who disapprove) | |
| Total respondents |
People should be aware of what happens there | 15 |
They have their right to share personal things; this is their freedom | 10 |
Social media is a tool for socializing | 5 |
They have their non-disclosure agreement anyway | 4 |
We need to trust people, they understand what is good for posting and what is not | 3 |
It is pointless, it will not work | 3 |
Information can be interesting to those who would like to become a military officer | 1 |
Ordinary workers cannot disclose any information as they do not have access to it | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 60 |
There is a point of view that the military personnel should not use social media as they unintentionally can make confidential information public. Others believe that, as any other citizen, the military have their right to use social media and it is secure. Which statement do you agree with? (closed-ended, one answer, % of those who expressed their opinions on this initiative) |
| |||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | |
The first one | 61 | 68 | 56 | |
The second one | 32 | 26 | 36 | |
Don’t know | 7 | 6 | 8 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!