July 21, 2006 5:18 AM PDT

CIA contractor fired over blog post

by Anne Broache
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 2 comments

A software contractor for the CIA was fired this week after she posted her views on the Geneva Conventions and torture at a blog site only accessible to those with a top-secret clearance.

Christine Axsmith had been employed by BAE Systems, a prominent defense contractor, to test software performance at the spy agency, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

On July 13, under her usual alias of "Covert Communications," she posted an entry called "Waterboarding is Torture and Torture is Wrong" to Intelink, the intelligence community's classified intranet. She mentioned in the entry that she had had "the sad occasion to read interrogation transcripts in an assignment that should not be made public," and that's reportedly what set off upper management at the CIA, BAE Systems told her.

In an interview with the Post, Axmith, 42, described herself as an "opinionated loudmouth with a knack for writing a catchy headline." She said she apologized immediately for the posting and expected a scolding or withdrawal of her blogging privileges--but never imagined she'd lose her job.

Her other blog posts, according to the report, had run the gamut from the Middle East conflict to a well-read critique of the food in the CIA's cafeteria.

A CIA spokesman reached by the Post declined to comment directly on Axmith's case. He said the general policy for blogs is that "postings should relate directly to the official business of the author and readers of the site...CIA expects contractors to do the work they are paid to do."

Recent posts from News Blog
Nvidia puts NForce chipset development on hold
Opera 10 browser is here
Neil Young Archives Blu-ray: Rip off?
Acronis revises survey results about backup habits
Acronis miscalculates data on users' bad backup habits
Flickr co-founder presses beta button
Comcast, Sony open retail store
Cox to try coaxing the Internet into submission
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by mervincena August 30, 2009 3:42 AM PDT
i think everybody has a right to say and present their views. this kinda news is really an annoying..
Thanks and Regards
Mervin.
MD . <a href="http://www.itsfitlife.com/anti-aging-skin-care-products/">Anti Aging Skin Care Products</a> ,
Reply to this comment
by mervincena August 30, 2009 3:44 AM PDT
Well i would like others to start discussion on this..
Mervin
www.itsfitlife.com/anti-aging-skin-care-products/
Reply to this comment
advertisement

15 sites that went kaput in 2009

Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.

Top 10 news stories of the decade

Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.

About News Blog

Recent posts on technology, trends, and more.

Add this feed to your online news reader

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right