U.S. military cuts off access to YouTube, My Space

Soldiers serving overseas will lose some of their online links to friends and loved ones back home under a Department of Defence policy that a high-ranking army official said would take effect Monday.

The Defence Department will begin blocking access "worldwide" to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular websites on its computers and networks, according to a memo sent Friday by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. forces Korea commander.

The policy is being implemented to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks, according to Bell.