Classified information

Classified information
Classified information is a categorization applied to information that
a government claims is sensitive information. Access is restricted by
law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security
clearance is often required to handle classified documents or access
classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory
background investigation. There are typically several levels (classes) of
sensitivity, with differing clearance requirements. This sort of
hierarchical system of secrecy is used by virtually every national
government. The act of assigning the level of sensitivity to data is
called data classification. Although the root sense of the word
"classified" is simply synonymous with "categorized", it has developed
a sense synonymous with "censored" in the context of classified
information.
A distinction could be made between formal security classification and
privacy markings such as "Commercial in confidence".
Some corporations and non-government organizations also assign
sensitive information to multiple levels of protection, either from a
desire to protect trade secrets, or because of laws and regulations
governing various matters such as personal privacy, sealed legal
proceedings and the timing of financial information releases.

Government classification

A typical classified document. Page 13 of a U.S.

[1]
National Security Agency report on the USS
Liberty incident, partially declassified and
released to the public in July 2004. The original
overall classification of the page, "top secret",
and the Special Intelligence code word "umbra,"
are shown at top and bottom. The classification of
individual paragraphs and reference titles is
shown in parentheses - there are six different
levels on this page alone. Notations with leader
lines at top and bottom cite statutory authority for
not declassifying certain sections.

The purpose of classification is to protect information from being used

to damage or endanger national security. Classification formalises what
constitutes a "state secret" and accords different levels of protection based on the expected damage the information
might cause in the wrong hands.
However, classified information is frequently 'leaked' to reporters by officials for political purposes. Several US
presidents have leaked sensitive information to get their point across to the public.[2][3]

Classification levels
Although the classification systems vary from country to country, most have levels corresponding to the following
British definitions (from the highest level to lowest)
Top Secret (TS)
The highest level of classification of material on a national level. Such material would cause "exceptionally grave
damage" to national security if made publicly available.
Secret
It is desired that no document be released which refers to experiments with humans and might have adverse effect on public
opinion or result in legal suits. Documents covering such work field should be classified `secret.
April 17, 1947 Atomic Energy Commission memo from Colonel O.G. Haywood, Jr. to Dr. Fidler at the Oak Ridge Laboratory in
Tennessee

[4]

Classified information
Such material would cause "serious damage" to national security if it were publicly available.
Confidential
Such material would cause "damage" or be "prejudicial" to national security if publicly available.
Restricted
Such material would cause "undesirable effects" if publicly available. Some countries do not have such a
classification.
Unclassified
Technically not a classification level, but is used for government documents that do not have a classification listed
above. Such documents can sometimes be viewed by those without security clearance.
There are a plethora of pseudo-classifications under this category. Please see the articles on Sensitive but
unclassified and Controlled Unclassified Information for more information. Some government prosecutors have
retro-actively changed unclassified information into classified information after charging someone with a crime; see
the Thomas Andrews Drake case for example.

Clearance
Depending on the level of classification there are different rules controlling the level of clearance needed to view
such information, and how it must be stored, transmitted, and destroyed. Additionally, access is restricted on a "need
to know" basis. Simply possessing a clearance does not automatically authorize the individual to view all material
classified at that level or below that level. The individual must present a legitimate "need to know" in addition to the
proper level of clearance.

Compartmented information
In addition to the general risk-based classification levels above, often there are additional constraints on access, such
as (in the U.S.) Special Intelligence (SI), which protects intelligence sources and methods, No Foreign dissemination
(NOFORN), which restricts dissemination to U.S. nationals, and Originator Controlled dissemination (ORCON),
which ensures that the originator can track possessors of the information. Documents in some compartments are
marked with specific "code words" in addition to the classification level.

Nuclear information
Government information about nuclear weapons such as nuclear warheads often has an additional marking to show it
contains such information.

Sharing classified information between countries

When a government agency or group shares information between an agency or group of other countrys government
they will generally employ a special classification scheme that both parties have previously agreed to honour.
For example the marking ATOMAL, is applied to U.S. RESTRICTED DATA or FORMERLY RESTRICTED
DATA and United Kingdom ATOMIC information that has been released to NATO. ATOMAL information is
marked COSMIC TOP SECRET ATOMAL (CTSA), NATO SECRET ATOMAL (NSAT), or NATO
CONFIDENTIAL ATOMAL (NCA).
In cases where a country wishes to share classified information bilaterally (or multilaterally) with a country that has
a sharing agreement, the information is with the countries it can be shared with. Those countries would have to
maintain the classification of the document at the level originally classified (TOP-SECRET, SECRET, etc.) with the
appropriate caveat (USNZ, AUSGE, CANUK, etc.).

Classified information

NATO classifications
For example, sensitive information shared amongst NATO allies has four levels of security classification; from most
to least classified:
1.
2.
3.
4.

COSMIC TOP SECRET (CTS),

NATO SECRET (NS),
NATO CONFIDENTIAL (NC), and
NATO RESTRICTED (NR).

A special case exists with regard to NATO UNCLASSIFIED (NU) information. Documents with this marking is
NATO property (copyright) and must not be made public without NATO permission. In general documents with this
classification, aren't cleared for internet-transmission either, unless clearly marked with RELEASABLE FOR
INTERNET TRANSMISSION. Documents that can be made public however, should be clearly marked with NON
SENSITIVE INFORMATION RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
In addition to the above classification levels NATO operates with
1. COSMIC TOP SECRET - A
This level is given to people who need to have access to the joined Atomic program of NATO. This level is never
given permanently to anyone, regardless of jobtitle - e.g. President of the U.S.A. etc. It is only given for short periods
of time, when needed.
International organisations
European Commission, has 5 levels, EU TOP SECRET, EU SECRET, EU CONFIDENTIAL, EU
RESTRICTED, and EU COUNCIL / COMMISSION.[5] (Note that usually the French term is used)
OCCAR, a European defence organisation, has three levels of classification: OCCAR SECRET, OCCAR
CONFIDENTIAL, OCCAR RESTRICTED.[6]

By country
Most countries employ some sort of classification system for certain
government information. For example, in Canada, information that the
U.S. would classify SBU (Sensitive but Unclassified) is called
"protected" and further subcategorised into levels A, B, and C.
Australia
On 19 July 2011, the National Security (NS) classification marking
scheme and the Non-National Security (NNS) classification marking
scheme in Australia was unified into one structure.
The Australian Government Security Classification system now
comprises TOP SECRET, SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL and
PROTECTED. A new dissemination limiting markers (DLMs) scheme
was also introduced for information where disclosure may be limited
or prohibited by legislation, or where it may otherwise require special
handling. The DLM marking scheme comprises For Official Use Only
(FOUO), Sensitive, Sensitive: Personal, Sensitive: Legal, and Sensitive
Cabinet. [7]
Documents marked Sensitive Cabinet, relating to discussions in
Federal Cabinet, are treated as PROTECTED at minimum due to its
higher sensitivity.

Facsimile of the cover page from an East German

operation manual for the M-125 Fialka cipher
machine. The underlined classification markings
can be translated as "Cryptologic material! Secret
classified material" de:Verschlusssache.

Classified information
Background checks for access to TOP SECRET material are carried out at either of two levels: at TOP SECRET
NEGATIVE VETTING (TSNV), or at the more stringent and expensive TOP SECRET POSITIVE VETTING
(TSPV) level, depending on the extent of required access to TOP SECRET material and on the potential damage to
national security should such material be disclosed to unauthorised parties. Most background checks for access to
TOP SECRET material are carried out at the TOP SECRET NEGATIVE VETTING level.
Brazil
In Brazil, a top secret (Ultrassecreto) government-issued document may be classified for a period of 25 years, which
may be extended up to another 25 years. Thus, no document remains classified for more than 50 years. This is
mandated by the 2011 Information Access Law (Lei de Acesso Informao), a change from the previous rule,
under which documents could have their classification time length renewed indefinitely, effectively shuttering state
secrets from the public. The new law applies retroactively to existing documents.
Canada
Background and hierarchy
There are 2 main type of sensitive information designation used by the Government of Canada: Classified and
Designated. The access and protection of both types of information is governed by the Security of Information Act,
effective December 24, 2001, replacing the Official Secrets Act 1981.[8] To access the information, a person must
have the appropriate level of clearance and a Need to know.
Special operational information
SOI is not a classification of data per se. It is defined under the Security of Information Act, and unauthorised release
of such information constitutes a higher breach of trust, with penalty of life imprisonment.
SOIs include:

military operations in respect of a potential, imminent or present armed conflict

the identity of confidential source of information, intelligence or assistance to the Government of Canada
tools used for information gathering or intelligence
the object of a covert investigation, or a covert collection of information or intelligence
the identity of any person who is under covert surveillance
encryption and cryptographic systems
information or intelligence to, or received from, a foreign entity or terrorist group

Classified information
Classified information can be designated Top Secret, Secret or Confidential. These classifications are only used on
matters of national interest.
Top Secret: This applies when compromise might reasonably cause exceptionally grave injury to the national
interest. The possible impact must be great, immediate and irreparable.
Secret: This applies when compromise might reasonably cause serious injury to the national interest.
Confidential: When disclosure might reasonably cause injury to the national interest.

Classified information
Designated information
Designated information is not classified. Designated information pertains to any sensitive information that does not
relate to national security and cannot be disclosed under the access and privacy legislation because of the possible
injury to particular public or private interests.[9][10]
Protected C (Extremely Sensitive designated information): is used to protect extremely sensitive information if
compromised, could reasonably be expected to cause extremely grave injury outside the national interest.
Examples could include bankruptcy, identities of informants in criminal investigations, etc.
Protected B (Particularly Sensitive designated information): is used to protect information that could cause severe
injury or damage to the people or group involved if it was released. Examples include medical records, annual
personnel performance reviews, etc.
Protected A (Low-Sensitive designated information): is applied to low sensitivity information that should not be
disclosed to the public without authorisation and could reasonably be expected to cause injury or embarrassment
outside the national interest. Example of Protected A information could include employee number, pay deposit
banking information, etc.
Federal Cabinet (Queen's Privy Council for Canada) papers are either designated (i.e. overhead slides prepared to
make presentations to Cabinet) or classified (draft legislations, certain memos).[11]
People's Republic of China
The Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (which is not
operative in the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and
Macao) makes it a crime to release a state secret. Regulation and
enforcement is carried out by the National Administration for the
Protection of State Secrets.
Under the 1989 "Law on Guarding State Secrets,"[12] state secrets are
defined as those that concern:
1. Major policy decisions on state affairs;
2. The building of national defence and in the activities of the armed
A building in Wuhan housing provincial offices
for dealing with foreign countries etc. The red
forces;
slogan says, "Protection of national secrets is a
3. Diplomatic activities and in activities related to foreign countries
duty of every citizen"
and those to be maintained as commitments to foreign countries;
4. National economic and social development;
5. Science and technology;
6. Activities for preserving state security and the investigation of criminal offences; and
7. Any other matters classified as "state secrets" by the national State Secrets Bureau.[13]
Secrets can be classified into one of three categories:
Top secret ( ): Defined as "vital state secrets whose disclosure would cause extremely serious harm to state
security and national interests";
Highly secret ( ): Defined as "important state secrets whose disclosure would cause serious harm to state
security and national interests"; and
Secret ( ): Defined as "ordinary state secrets whose disclosure would cause harm to state security and
national interests".[13]

Classified information
France
In France, classified information defined by article 413-9 of the Penal Code.[14] The three levels of military
classification are
Confidentiel Dfense (Confidential Defence): Information deemed potentially harmful to national defence, or that
could lead to uncovering an information classified at a higher level of security.
Secret Dfense (Secret Defence): Information deemed very harmful to national defence. Such information cannot
be reproduced without authorisation from the emitting authority, except in exceptional emergencies.
Trs Secret Dfense (Very Secret Defence): Information deemed extremely harmful to national defence, and
relative to governmental priorities in national defence. No service or organisation can elaborate, process, stock,
transfer, display or destroy information or protected supports classified at this level without authorisation from the
Prime Minister or the national secretary for National Defence. Partial or exhaustive reproduction is strictly
forbidden.
Less sensitive information is "protected". The levels are

Non Protg (unprotected)

Diffusion restreinte administrateur ("administrative restricted information")
Diffusion restreinte ("restricted information")
Confidentiel personnels Sous-Officiers ("Confidential non-commissioned officers")

Confidentiel personnels Officiers ("Confidential officers")

A further mention, "spcial France" (reserved France) restricts the document to French citizens (in its entirety or by
extracts). This is not a classification level.
Declassification of documents can be done by the Commission consultative du secret de la dfense nationale
(CCSDN), an independent authority. Transfer of classified information is done with double envelopes, the outer
layer being plastified and numbered, and the inner in strong paper. Reception of the document involves examination
of the physical integrity of the container and registration of the document. In foreign countries, the document must
be transferred through specialised military mail or diplomatic bag. Transport is done by an authorised convoyer or
habilitated person for mail under 20kg. The letter must bear a seal mentioning "PAR VALISE
ACCOMPAGNEE-SACOCHE". Once a year, ministers have an inventory of classified information and supports by
competent authorities.
Once their usage period is expired, documents are transferred to archives, where they are either destroyed (by
incineration, crushing or electrical overtension), or stored.
In case of unauthorized release of classified information, competent authorities are the Ministry of Interior, the Haut
fonctionnaire de dfense et de scurit ("high civil servant for defence and security") of the relevant ministry, and
the General secretary for National Defence. Violation of such secrets is an offence punishable with 7 years of
imprisonment and a 100000 Euro fine; if the offence is committed by imprudence or negligence, the penalties are 3
years of imprisonment and a 45000 Euro fine.

Classified information
Hong Kong
The Security Bureau is responsible for developing policies in regards to the protection and handling of confidential
government information. In general, the system used in Hong Kong is very similar to the UK system, developed
from the Colonial Hong Kong era.
Four classifications exists in Hong Kong, from highest to lowest in sensitivity:[15]
Top Secret ( )
Secret ( )
Confidential ( )
Temporary Confidential ( )
Restricted ( / )
Restricted (staff) ( ( ))
Restricted (tender) ( ( ))
Restricted (administration) ( ( ))
Restricted documents are not classified per se, but only those who have a need to know will have access to such
information, in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.[16]
New Zealand
New Zealand uses the Restricted classification, which is lower than Confidential. People may be given access to
Restricted information on the strength of an authorisation by their Head of Department, without being subjected to
the background vetting associated with Confidential, Secret and Top Secret clearances. New Zealand's security
classifications and the national-harm requirements associated with their use are roughly similar to those of the
United States.
In addition to national security classifications there are two additional security classifications, In Confidence and
Sensitive, which are used to protect information of a policy and privacy nature. There are also a number of
information markings used within ministries and departments of the government, to indicate, for example, that
information should not be released outside the originating ministry.
Because of strict privacy requirements around personal information, personnel files are controlled in all parts of the
public and private sectors. Information relating to the security vetting of an individual is usually classified at the In
Confidence level.
Russian Federation
In the Russian Federation, a state secret ( ) is information protected by the state on its
military, foreign policy, economic, intelligence, counterintelligence, operational and investigative and other
activities, dissemination of which could harm state security.
Sweden
The Swedish classification has been updated due to increased NATO/PfP cooperation. All classified defence
documents will now have both a Swedish classification (Kvalificerat Hemlig or Hemlig), and an English
classification (Top Secret, Secret, Confidential, or Restricted).

Classified information

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom currently uses five levels of classification from lowest to highest, they are: PROTECT,
RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET and TOP SECRET (formerly MOST SECRET). Those working with
such material should have the relevant security clearance and often are required to sign to confirm their
understanding and acceptance of the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989, although the Act applies in the same way
regardless of signature. PROTECT is not in itself a security protective marking level (such as RESTRICTED or
greater), but is used to indicate information which should not be disclosed because, for instance, the document
contains tax, or national insurance or other personal information.
Government documents without a classification may be marked as UNCLASSIFIED or NOT PROTECTIVELY
MARKED.[17]
United States
The U.S. classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13292 and has three levels of
classification Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. The U.S. had a Restricted level during World War II but no
longer does. U.S. regulations state that information received from other countries at the Restricted level should be
handled as Confidential. A variety of markings are used for material that is not classified, but whose distribution is
limited administratively or by other laws, e.g., For Official Use Only (FOUO), or Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU).
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 provides for the protection of information related to the design of nuclear weapons.
The term "Restricted Data" is used to denote certain nuclear technology. Information about the storage, use or
handling of nuclear material or weapons is marked "Formerly Restricted Data." These designations are used in
addition to level markings (Confidential, Secret and Top Secret). Information protected by the Atomic Energy Act is
protected by law and information classified under the Executive Order is protected by Executive privilege.

Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries

(State)

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Albania

Teper Sekret

Sekret

Konfidencial

I Kufizuar

Argentina

Estrictamente Secreto y
Confidencial

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Australia

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Protected

Austria

Streng Geheim

Geheim

Vertraulich

Eingeschrnkt

Belgium (Dutch)

Zeer Geheim

Geheim

Vertrouwelijk

Beperkte Verspreiding

Belgium (French)

Trs Secret

Secret

Confidentiel

Diffusion restreinte

Bolivia

Supersecreto
or Muy Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Bosnia and
Herzegovina

Strogo povjerljivo

Tajno

Konfidencialno

Restiktirano

Brazil

Ultra Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Bulgaria

Cambodia

Sam Ngat Bamphot

Sam Ngat Roeung

Art Kambang

Ham Kom Psay

Canada

Top Secret/Trs secret

Secret/Secret

Confidential/Confidentiel

Protected A, B or C /
Protg A, B ou C

Chile

Secreto

Secreto

Reservado

Reservado

China, People's
Republic of

Jum ( )

Jm ( )

Mm ( )

Nib ( )

Classified information

China, Republic of

"Absolutely" Secret (
)

"Extremely" Secret
( )

Secret ( )

no direct equivalent

Colombia

Ultrasecreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reserva del sumario

Costa Rica

Alto Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Croatia

Vrlo tajno

Tajno

Povjerljivo

Ogranieno

Czech Republic

Psn tajn

Tajn

Dvrn

Vyhrazen

Denmark

Yderst Hemmeligt

Hemmeligt

Fortroligt

Til Tjenestebrug
Foreign Service:
Fortroligt
(thin Black border)

Ecuador

Secretisimo

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Egypt

Sirriy lil-yah

Sirriy iddan

Kh

Mazr

El Salvador

Ultra Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Estonia

Tiesti salajane

Salajane

Konfidentsiaalne

Piiratud

Ethiopia

Yemiaz Birtou Mistir

Mistir

Kilkil

European Union (EU) TRES SECRET UE / EU

TOP SECRET

SECRET UE / EU
SECRET

CONFIDENTIEL UE / EU
CONFIDENTIAL

RESTREINT UE / EU
RESTRICTED

European Union
(Western) (WEU)

FOCAL TOP SECRET

WEU SECRET

WEU CONFIDENTIAL

WEU RESTRICTED

Euratom

EURA TOP SECRET

EURA SECRET

EURA CONFIDENTIAL

EURA RESTRICTED

Finland

Erittin salainen (TLL I)

Salainen (TLL II)

Luottamuksellinen (TLL III)

Viranomaiskytt (TLL
IV)

France

Trs secret dfense

Secret dfense

Confidentiel dfense

Diffusion restreinte

Germany

Streng Geheim

Geheim

VS-Vertraulich

VS-Nur fr den
Dienstgebrauch

Greece

Guatemala

Alto Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Haiti

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Reserve

Honduras

Super Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Hong Kong

Top Secret,

Secret,

Confidential,

Restricted,
/

Hungary

Szigoran Titkos

Titkos

Bizalmas

Korltozott Terjeszts

India (Hindi)

(Param Gupt)

(Gupt)

(Gopniya)

/
(Pratibandhit/seemit)

India (English)

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Indonesia

Sangat Rahasia

Rahasia

Rahasia Dinas

Terbatas

Iran

Fararaz

Raz

Sar-be-moher

Sarbaste

Iraq

Sirriy lil-yah

Sirriy

Kh

Madd

Iceland

Algert Leyndarml

Leyndarml

Trnaarml

jnustuskjal

Ireland (Irish
language)

An-sicreideach

Sicreideach

Runda

Srianta

Classified information

10

Israel

Sodi Beyoter

Sodi

Shamur

Mugbal

Italy

Segretissimo

Segreto

Riservatissimo

Riservato

Japan

Kimitsu,

Gokuhi,

Hi,

Toriatsukaichuui,

Jordan

Maktm iddan

Maktm

Sirriy

Madd

Korea, South

I(Il)-Kup Bi Mil, 1

II(I)-Kup Bi Mil,
2

III(Sam)-Kup Bi Mil, 3

Dae Woi Bi,

Korea, North

Unknown,

Unknown,

Unknown,

Unknown,

Laos

Lup Sood Gnod

Kuam Lup

Kuam Lap

Chum Kut Kon Arn

Latvia

Sevii slepeni

Slepeni

Konfidencili

Dienesta vajadzbm

Lebanon

Tres Secret

Secret

Confidentiel

Lithuania

Visikai Slaptai

Slaptai

Konfidencialiai

Riboto Naudojimo

Malaysia

Rahsia Besar

Rahsia

Sulit

Terhad

Mexico

Ultra Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Restringido

Montenegro

Strogo Tajno

Tajno

Povjerljivo

Interno

STG. Zeer Geheim

STG. Geheim

STG. Confidentieel

Departementaal
Vertrouwelijk

New Zealand

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Nicaragua

Alto Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Norway

STRENGT HEMMELIG

HEMMELIG

KONFIDENSIELT

BEGRENSET

Pakistan (Urdu)

Intahai Khufia

Khufia

Sigh-e-Raz

Barai Mahdud Taqsim

Pakistan (English)

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Paraguay

Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Peru

Estrictamente Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Philippines

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Poland

cile tajne

Tajne

Poufne

Zastrzeone

Portugal

Ultra Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Romania

Strict Secret de Importan

Deosebit

Strict Secret

Secret

Secret de serviciu

Russia

(:
(Sovershenno
Sekretno))

(:
(Sekretno))

(:
() (Ne podlezhit
oglasheniyu (Konfidentsial'no))

()
(Dlya Sluzhebnogo
Pol'zovaniya)

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Top Secret

Saudi Very Secret

Saudi Secret

Saudi Restricted

Serbia

Latin: Dravna tajna

Cyrillic:

Latin: Strogo
poverljivo
Cyrillic:

Latin: Poverljivo
Cyrillic: o

Latin: Interno
Cyrillic:

Singapore

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Slovak Republic

Prsne tajn

Tajn

Dvern

Vyhraden

Slovenia

Strogo tajno

Tajno

Zaupno

Interno

Netherlands

[18]

Classified information

11

Spain

Secreto

Reservado

Confidencial

Difusin Limitada

Sweden

Kvalificerat Hemlig (KH);

Hemlig/Top Secret (H/TS)

Hemlig (H);
Hemlig/Secret H/S)

Hemlig/Confidential (H/C)

Hemlig/Restricted (H/R)

Geheim / Secret

Vertraulich / Confidentiel

Dienstlich / Interne au
service

Switzerland

Tanzania (Swahili)

SIRI KUU

SIRI

STIRI

IMEZUILIWA

Thailand

Lap thi sut ()

Lap mak ()

Lap ()

Pok Pid ()

Turkey

ok Gizli

Gizli

zel

Hizmete zel

South Africa
(English)

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

South Africa
(Afrikaans)

Uiters Geheim

Geheim

Vertroulik

Beperk

Ukraine

United Kingdom

TOP SECRET

SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

RESTRICTED

United States

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

For Official Use Only

Uruguay

Ultra Secreto

Secreto

Confidencial

Reservado

Vietnam

Tuyt Mt

Ti Mt

Mt

Ph Bin Hn Ch

Original source: NISPOM Appendix B[19] In addition, Finland uses label Salassa pidettv, "to be kept secret" for
information that is not classified but must not be revealed on some other basis than national security. (E.g. privacy,
trade secrets etc.)

Corporate classification
Private corporations often require written confidentiality agreements and conduct background checks on candidates
for sensitive positions.[20] In the U.S. the Employee Polygraph Protection Act prohibits private employers from
requiring lie detector tests, but there are a few exceptions. Policies dictating methods for marking and safeguarding
company-sensitive information (e.g. "IBM Confidential") are common and some companies have more than one
level. Such information is protected under trade secret laws. New product development teams are often sequestered
and forbidden to share information about their efforts with un-cleared fellow employees, the original Apple
Macintosh project being a famous example. Other activities, such as mergers and financial report preparation
generally involve similar restrictions. However, corporate security generally lacks the elaborate hierarchical
clearance and sensitivity structures and the harsh criminal sanctions that give government classification systems their
particular tone.

Classified information

Traffic Light Protocol

The Traffic Light Protocol[21][22] was developed by the G8 countries to enable the sharing of sensitive information
between government agencies and corporations. This protocol has now been accepted as a model for trusted
information exchange by over 30 other countries. The protocol provides for four "information sharing levels" for the
handling of sensitive information.

References
[1] http:/ / www. nsa. gov/ public_info/ _files/ uss_liberty/ attack_sigint. pdf
[2] Burn Before Reading, Stansfield Turner, 2006
[3] Classified Information in Woodwards Obamas Wars (http:/ / stephenkim. org/ 2011/ 09/ 03/
classified-information-in-woodwards-obamas-wars/ ), September 29, 2010, Jack Goldsmith, Lawfare, via stephenkim.org
[4] Atomic Energy Commission's Declassification Review of Reports on Human Experiments and the Public Relations and Legal Liability
Consequences (https:/ / www. gwu. edu/ ~nsarchiv/ radiation/ dir/ mstreet/ commeet/ meet9/ brief9/ tab_i/ br9i2. txt), presented as evidence
during the 1994 ACHRE hearings.
[5] http:/ / ec. europa. eu/ transparency/ access_documents/ docs/ guide_citoyen/ en. pdf
[6] http:/ / www. fco. gov. uk/ Files/ kfile/ 306652_CM6554. pdf
[7] http:/ / www. ag. gov. au/ www/ agd/ rwpattach. nsf/ VAP/ (689F2CCBD6DC263C912FB74B15BE8285)~Australian+ Government+
information+ security+ management+ guidelines-+ Australian+ Government+ Security+ classification+ system. pdf/ $file/ Australian+
Government+ information+ security+ management+ guidelines-+ Australian+ Government+ Security+ classification+ system. pdf
[8] Security of Information Act (http:/ / www. csis-scrs. gc. ca/ en/ newsroom/ backgrounders/ backgrounder12. asp)
[9] Non-Insured Health Benefits Program Privacy Code (http:/ / www. hc-sc. gc. ca/ fniah-spnia/ pubs/ nihb-ssna/ _priv/ 2005_code/
appendix2-eng. php)
[10] Security Policy - Manager's Handbook (http:/ / www. tbs-sct. gc. ca/ pubs_pol/ gospubs/ TB_J2/ dwnld/ spmh_e. rtf)
[11] Confidences of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (http:/ / www. tbs-sct. gc. ca/ pubs_pol/ gospubs/ TBM_121/ CHAP2_6-PR_e.
asp?printable=True)
[12] Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, " Law on Guarding State Secrets (http:/ / www. gov. cn/ banshi/ 2005-08/ 21/
content_25096. htm)" ( ), promulgated 1988 and effective 1989.
[13] Translation per Human Rights in China, State Secrets: China's Legal Labyrinth (http:/ / hrichina. org/ public/ contents/ 41421), (2007).
[14] Article 413-9 (http:/ / www. legifrance. gouv. fr/ WAspad/ UnArticleDeCode?code=CPENALLL. rcv& art=413-9), Legifrance
[15] (http:/ / www. csb. gov. hk/ hkgcsb/ doclib/ general. pdf)
[16] LCQ3: Equal Opportunities Commission (http:/ / www. hab. gov. hk/ en/ publications_and_press_releases/ press_releases_speeches/
equal_opportunities/ 191103q3. htm)
[17] "[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Understanding the Security Policy Framework & frequently asked questions" (http:/ / www. cabinetoffice. gov.
uk/ spf/ faqs. aspx). Cabinetoffice.gov.uk. . Retrieved 2012-06-01.
[18] (https:/ / www. aivd. nl/ aspx/ download. aspx?file=/ contents/ pages/ 95299/ leidraadaanwijzenvertrouwensfuncties. pdf)
[19] (https:/ / www. dss. mil/ portal/ ShowBinary/ BEA Repository/ new_dss_internet/ isp/ fac_clear/ download_nispom. html)
[20] "Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse" (http:/ / www. privacyrights. org/ fs/ fs16-bck.
htm). Privacyrights.org. . Retrieved 2011-12-12.
[21] http:/ / www. oecd. org/ dataoecd/ 25/ 10/ 40761118. pdf
[22] "'Re: OpenSSH security advisory: cbc.adv' - MARC" (http:/ / marc. info/ ?l=bugtraq& m=122754275122010& w=2). Marc.info. . Retrieved
2011-12-12.

External links
US "NISPOM" manual (http://www.dss.mil/isp/odaa/nispom06.html), explaining rules on classified
information among other things - full title is "National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual".
Marking Classified National Security Information (http://www.archives.gov/isoo/training/marking-booklet.
pdf) ISOO booklet PDF
Defence Vetting Agency (http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/
SecurityandIntelligence/DVA/DefenceVettingAgency.htm). Carries out national security checks in the UK.
Los Alamos table of equivalent US and UK classifications (http://badge.lanl.gov/uk-usa_classification.shtml)
The Black Vault (http://www.theblackvault.com) - a database of more than a half million declassified pages on
many different topics, all acquired through the FOIA

12

Classified information
The National Security Archive (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/) - a collection of declassified documents
acquired through the FOIA
Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth & K. Lee Lerner, eds. Terrorism: essential primary sources. Thomson Gale, 2006. ISBN
978-1-4144-0621-3 Library of Congress. Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms LC
Control Number: 2005024002.
Peter Galison, Removing Knowledge (http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/bios/docs/Removing Knowledge.
pdf) in Critical Inquiry n31 (Autumn 2004)
Parlament of Serbia (http://www.parlament.gov.rs/upload/archive/files/lat/pdf/zakoni/2009/2502-09Lat.
zip), Law on confidentiality of data. (Serbian)
Parlament of Montenegro (http://www.skupstina.me/index.php?strana=zakoni&id=618), Law on
confidentiality of data. (Serbian)

13

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

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DocWatson42, Donreed, Dpmuk, Dylan620, ESkog, EcoRat, Emersoni, EncMstr, Erikwithaknotac, EsaL-74, Eskildalenius, Everyking, Evil Monkey, Ewlyahoocom, Excirial, F.F.McGurk,
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