서울흥신소
Classified information relates to national security and must be protected against unauthorized disclosure. Government agencies each have their own systems for handling classified materials, though most follow some common procedures.
서울흥신소Generally, information is classified when an official determination is made that its unauthorized release would damage national security. The highest level of classification is TOP SECRET, followed by SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL.
Definition
Generally speaking, information is classified if an official determination is made that its unauthorized release would damage national security. The level of damage is defined by an official classification system (often based on a British model) that places information into compartments that limit access to varying degrees. The highest category, TOP SECRET, is used to protect information that could cause “exceptionally grave damage to the nation’s security,” according to E.O. 13526, and other categories include SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL, and RESTRICTED.
Classified information can take any form, from papers and maps to photographs, films, videos, microfilms, databases, hard drives, and CDs. The protection it requires is in place until the information has been formally declassified, a process that can take years.
Handling written classified materials is fairly straightforward because it is usually marked to indicate levels of classification. It is more difficult to remember whether certain things heard in meetings or oral briefings are classified, and accidental revelations by government employees are not uncommon in media interviews or casual conversations. This is why clearance and non-disclosure agreements are required for anyone who handles classified material. The level of clearance required varies with the classification level, but all require a thorough background check. A higher level of clearance is needed to handle TOP SECRET and SECRET materials, which should always be hand carried between offices in the Executive Office of the President complex or transmitted via a secure courier service.
Types
Information is classified when an official determination is made that its unauthorized release would damage national security. Generally, the more sensitive the information, the higher its classification. For example, top secret information requires protection because it would cause “exceptionally grave damage,” while secrets and confidential information are considered to cause “serious damage” (as described by Executive Order 13256).
Some information classified as requiring control is marked with a code that does 서울흥신소 not indicate the level of the information’s sensitivity. For example, law enforcement bulletins released to the media when the threat level was raised are labeled U//LES or Unclassified – Law Enforcement Sensitive, which is not a sensitivity indicator like classified.
Classified information can be in any medium, from paper documents to photographs, maps, microfilms, databases and digital files. It may also be conveyed verbally during meetings, oral briefings and news conferences. When such information is revealed, it can cause a variety of adverse consequences, from embarrassing public embarrassment to criminal prosecution.
Although every government agency has its own specific policies for handling classified materials, most follow a few basic practices. Documents are usually given a cover sheet and then marked with markings that identify their classification levels, while senior decision-makers receive broad training in handling classified information. Junior and mid-level officials or military personnel usually view such materials in a SCIF, a special location where the information is physically and logically separated from unclassified channels of communication.
Limitations
As a matter of policy, only federal officials with the proper security clearances may read classified information. Moreover, classified information must be transmitted through and stored on secure systems or facilities. Mishandling classified information or revealing it without authorization can result in administrative and criminal penalties.
In addition, the classification status of a document must never be changed for any reason. For example, a document that was classified as Top Secret/Secure Compartmented Information would be able to be viewed only by a small number of executive branch officials, and only if they had a “need to know.”
Furthermore, the classified status of a document cannot be changed if it reveals the identity of a confidential human source or human intelligence source. The revealing of such identities is a violation of the Espionage Act, which can carry severe penalties.
Finally, classified information can only be disclosed in court if the public interest outweighs any harm to national security. The president is responsible for making such judgments, and if the president decides that protections can be removed without risking national security, this represents an exercise of his constitutional authority.
In order to prevent unnecessarily divulging classified information in court, prosecutors must be aware of the classified status of all documents and removable media. They must also ensure that the document is marked properly, and that all handling caveats are included. Classified documents must also be carefully transported between offices, and transmissions within the EOP complex are carried in special messenger envelopes.
Procedures
Classified information can only be made available to people with a security clearance. It’s not for embarrassment; it’s based on national security concerns, including the risk that information may fall into the wrong hands. Higher levels of classification – top secret, secret and confidential – reflect the harm that would be caused by release. The procedures for collecting and storing classified materials vary from agency to agency. But in general, staff must safeguard sensitive material, secure it when not in use and, in some cases, avoid transporting it outside the office (even to a private home), for fear of leaks.
In the rare event that a classified document must be shared with a non-government recipient, the government must seek permission from the original classification authority to do so. It also must offer a “substitute” to be used in place of the classified material. In most instances, this will consist of a redacted version of the classified material, which contains only the relevant details.
Even with these security protocols in place, classified documents sometimes find their way into the wrong hands despite efforts to protect them. Accidental leaks, such as when the staff of a retiring senior leader improperly transports bulk papers from an office to his personal storage, happen so frequently that the National Archives has a startlingly matter-of-fact set of instructions for the handling of such discoveries on its public website – aligned with those reportedly followed by Biden’s team.