Classified Information

2/5/24, 4:29 PM Classified information - Wikipedia
Classified information
Classified information is material that a government body deems to be sensitive information that must be protected. Access is
restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of people with the necessary security clearance and need to know. Mishandling of the
material can incur criminal penalties.
A formal security clearance is required to view or handle classified material. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background
investigation. Documents and other information must be properly marked "by the author" with one of several (hierarchical) levels of
sensitivity—e.g. restricted, confidential, secret, and top secret. The choice of level is based on an impact assessment; governments have
their own criteria, including how to determine the classification of an information asset and rules on how to protect information
classified at each level. This process often includes security clearances for personnel handling the information.
Some corporations and non-government organizations also assign levels of protection to their private information, 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.
With the passage of time much classified information can become less sensitive, and may be declassified and made public. Since the late
twentieth century there has been freedom of information legislation in some countries, whereby the public is deemed to have the right
to all information that is not considered to be damaging if released. Sometimes documents are released with information still
considered confidential obscured (redacted), as in the adjacent example.
The question exists among some political science and legal experts whether the definition of classified ought to be information that
would cause injury to the cause of justice, human rights, etc., rather than information that would cause injury to the national interest; to
distinguish when classifying information is in the collective best interest of a just society, or merely the best interest of a society acting
unjustly to protect its people, government, or administrative officials from legitimate recourses consistent with a fair and just social
contract.
Government classification
The purpose of classification is to protect information. Higher classifications protect information that might 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.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information 1/26
However, classified information is frequently "leaked" to reporters by officials for political purposes.
Several U.S. presidents have leaked sensitive information to influence public opinion.[2][3]
Typical 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)
Top Secret is the highest level of classified information.[4] Information is further compartmented so
that specific access using a code word after top secret is a legal way to hide collective and important
information.[5] Such material would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security if made
publicly available.[6] Prior to 1942, the United Kingdom and other members of the British Empire
used Most Secret, but this was later changed to match the United States' category name of Top A typical classified document. Page
Secret in order to simplify Allied interoperability. 13 of a U.S. National Security
Agency report[1] on the USS Liberty
The Washington Post reported in an investigation entitled "Top Secret America" that, as of 2010, incident, partially declassified and
"An estimated 854,000 people ... hold top-secret security clearances" in the United States.[7] released to the public in July 2004.
The original overall classification of
the page, "top secret", and the
Secret Special Intelligence code word
"umbra", are shown at top and
Secret material would cause "serious damage" to national security if it were publicly available.[10] bottom. The classification of
individual paragraphs and reference
In the United States, operational "Secret" information can be marked with an additional "LimDis", titles is shown in parentheses—
to limit distribution. there are six different levels on this
page alone. Notations with leader
lines at top and bottom cite statutory
Confidential authority for not declassifying
certain sections.
Confidential material would cause "damage" or be prejudicial to national security if publicly
available.[11]
Restricted
Restricted material would cause "undesirable effects" if publicly available. Some countries do not
have such a classification in public sectors, such as commercial industries. Such a level is also known
as "Private Information".
Official
Official (equivalent to US DOD classification FOUO – For Official Use Only) material forms the
generality of government business, public service delivery and commercial activity. This includes a
diverse range of information, of varying sensitivities, and with differing consequences resulting from
compromise or loss. Official information must be secured against a threat model that is broadly
similar to that faced by a large private company.
The Official Sensitive classification replaced the Restricted classification in April 2014 in the UK;
Official indicates the previously used Unclassified marking.[12]
KGB's "List of traitors to the

Unclassified
Motherland, agents of foreign
intelligence, and other wanted state
Unclassified is technically not a classification level. Though this is a feature of some classification criminals" (1979) seen in the
schemes, used for government documents that do not merit a particular classification or which have Museum of Genocide Victims,
been declassified. This is because the information is low-impact, and therefore does not require any Vilnius: originally marked top secret
special protection, such as vetting of personnel.
A plethora of pseudo-classifications exist under this category.

It is desired that no document
be released which refers to
Clearance experiments with humans and
might have adverse effect on
Clearance is a general classification, that comprises a variety of rules controlling the level of public opinion or result in
permission required to view some classified information, and how it must be stored, transmitted, legal suits. Documents
and destroyed. Additionally, access is restricted on a "need to know" basis. Simply possessing a covering such work field
clearance does not automatically authorize the individual to view all material classified at that level should be classified "secret".
or below that level. The individual must present a legitimate "need to know" in addition to the
proper level of clearance.
April 17, 1947 Atomic Energy
Commission memo from
Compartmented information Colonel O.G. Haywood, Jr. to
Dr. Fidler at the Oak Ridge
In addition to the general risk-based classification levels, additional compartmented constraints on Laboratory in Tennessee.[8]
access exist, such as (in the U.S.) Special Intelligence (SI), which protects intelligence sources and As of 2010, Executive Order
methods, No Foreign dissemination (NoForn), which restricts dissemination to U.S. nationals, and 13526 bans classification of
Originator Controlled dissemination (OrCon), which ensures that the originator can track documents simply to "conceal
possessors of the information. Information in these compartments is usually marked with specific violations of law, inefficiency,
keywords in addition to the classification level. or administrative error" or
"prevent embarrassment to a
Government information about nuclear weapons often has an additional marking to show it
person, organization, or
contains such information (CNWDI).
agency".[9]
International
When a government agency or group shares information between an agency or group of other country's 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). BALK and BOHEMIA are also used.
NATO classifications
For example, sensitive information shared amongst NATO allies has four levels of security classification; from most to least
classified:[13][14]
1. COSMIC Top Secret (CTS)

2. NATO Secret (NS)
3. NATO Confidential (NC)
4. NATO Restricted (NR)
ATOMAL: This designation is added to the NATO security classification when applicable. For example, COSMIC TOP SECRET
ATOMAL (CTS-A). ATOMAL information applies to U.S. RESTRICTED DATA or FORMERLY RESTRICTED DATA or United
Kingdom Atomic Information released to NATO.[15]
A special case exists with regard to NATO Unclassified (NU) information. Documents with this marking are NATO property (copyright)
and must not be made public without NATO permission.
COSMIC is an acronym for "Control of Secret Material in an International Command".[16]
International organizations
The European Union has four levels: EU Top Secret, EU Secret, EU Confidential, EU Restricted.[17] (Note that usually the French
terms are used.)
Très Secret UE/EU Top Secret: information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could cause exceptionally grave
prejudice to the essential interests of the European Union or of one or more of the Member States;
Secret UE/EU Secret: information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could seriously harm the essential interests
of the European Union or of one or more of the Member States;
Confidentiel UE/EU Confidential: information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could harm the essential
interests of the European Union or of one or more of the Member States;
Restreint UE/EU Restricted: information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could be disadvantageous to the
interests of the European Union or of one or more of the Member States.
Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, a European defence organisation, has three levels of classification: OCCAR Secret,
OCCAR Confidential, and OCCAR Restricted.[18]
ECIPS, the European Centre for Information Policy and Security, has four levels of Security Information, COSMIC (Top Secret), EC-
Secret, EC-Confidential and EC-Committees.[19]
The United Nations has two classification levels: Confidential and Strictly Confidential.[20]
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.
As of 2018, the policy detailing how Australian government entities handle classified information is defined in the Protective Security
Policy Framework (PSPF). The PSPF is published by the Attorney-General's Department and covers security governance, information
security, personal security, and physical security. A security classification can be applied to the information itself or an asset that holds
information e.g., a USB or laptop.[21]
The Australian Government uses four security classifications: OFFICIAL: Sensitive, PROTECTED,
SECRET and TOP SECRET. The relevant security classification is based on the likely damage
resulting from compromise of the information’s confidentiality..
All other information from business operations and services requires a routine level of protection
and is treated as OFFICIAL. Information that does not form part of official duty is treated as
UNOFFICIAL.
OFFICIAL and UNOFFICIAL are not security classifications and are not mandatory markings.
Caveats are a warning that the information has special protections in addition to those indicated by
the security classification of PROTECTED or higher (or in the case of the NATIONAL CABINET
caveat, OFFICIAL: Sensitive or higher). Australia has four caveats:
Codewords (sensitive compartmented information)

Foreign government markings
Special handling instructions
Facsimile of the cover page from an
Releasability caveats East German operation manual for
the M-125 Fialka cipher machine.
Codewords are primarily used within the national security community. Each codeword identifies a The underlined classification
special need-to-know compartment. markings can be translated as
"Cryptologic material! Secret
Foreign government markings are applied to information created by Australian agencies from restricted material"
foreign source information. Foreign government marking caveats require protection at least de:Verschlusssache.
equivalent to that required by the foreign government providing the source information.
Special handling instructions are used to indicate particular precautions for information handling.
They include:
EXCLUSIVE FOR (named person)

CABINET
NATIONAL CABINET
A releasability caveat restricts information based on citizenship. The three in use are:
Australian Eyes Only (AUSTEO)

Australian Government Access Only (AGAO)
Releasable To (REL).[21]
Additionally, the PSPF outlines Information Management Markers (IMM) as a way for entities to identify information that is subject to
non-security related restrictions on access and use. These are:
Legal privilege
Legislative secret
Personal privacy[21]
Brazil
There are three levels of document classification under Brazilian Information Access Law (http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2
011-2014/2011/Lei/L12527.htm): ultrassecreto (top secret), secreto (secret) and reservado (restricted).
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.[22] Thus, no document remains classified for more than 50 years. This is mandated by the 2011 Information Access
Law (Lei de Acesso à Informação), 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 2011 law applies retroactively to existing documents.
Canada
Background and hierarchy
The government of Canada employs two main types of sensitive information designation: Classified and Protected. The access and
protection of both types of information is governed by the Security of Information Act, effective 24 December 2001, replacing the
Official Secrets Act 1981.[23] To access the information, a person must have the appropriate security clearance and the need to know.
In addition, the caveat "Canadian Eyes Only" is used to restrict access to Classified or Protected information only to Canadian citizens
with the appropriate security clearance and need to know.[24]
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 a penalty of up to life imprisonment if the information is shared with a foreign
entity or terrorist group.
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: applies when compromise might reasonably cause exceptionally grave injury to the national interest. The possible
impact must be great, immediate and irreparable.
Secret: applies when compromise might reasonably cause serious injury to the national interest.
Confidential: disclosure might reasonably cause injury to the national interest.
Protected information
Protected information is not classified. It 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 potential injury to particular public or private interests.[25][26]
Protected C (Extremely Sensitive protected information): designates extremely sensitive information, which if compromised, could
reasonably be expected to cause extremely grave injury outside the national interest. Examples include bankruptcy, identities of
informants in criminal investigations, etc.
Protected B (Particularly Sensitive protected information): designates 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, income tax
returns, etc.
Protected A (Low-Sensitive protected information): designates low sensitivity information that should not be disclosed to the public
without authorization and could reasonably be expected to cause injury or embarrassment outside the national interest. Example of
Protected A information include employee identification number, pay deposit banking information, etc.
Federal Cabinet (Queen's Privy Council for Canada) papers are either protected (e.g., overhead slides prepared to make presentations to
Cabinet) or classified (e.g., draft legislation, certain memos).[27]
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 Macau) 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",[28] 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 forces
A building in Wuhan housing
3. Diplomatic activities and in activities related to foreign countries and those to be maintained as provincial offices for dealing with
commitments to foreign countries foreign countries, etc. The red
4. National economic and social development slogan says, "Protection of national
5. Science and technology secrets is a duty of every citizen".
6. Activities for preserving state security and the investigation of criminal offences
7. Any other matters classified as "state secrets" by the national State Secrets Bureau[29]
Secrets can be classified into three categories:
Top Secret (Chinese: 绝密; pinyin: Juémì), defined as "vital state secrets whose disclosure would cause extremely serious harm to
state security and national interests"
Highly Secret (Chinese: 机密; pinyin: Jīmì), defined as "important state secrets whose disclosure would cause serious harm to state
security and national interests"
Secret (Chinese: 秘密; pinyin: Mìmì), defined as "ordinary state secrets whose disclosure would cause harm to state security and
national interests"[29]
France
In France, classified information is defined by article 413-9 of the Penal Code.[30] The three levels of military classification are
Très Secret Défense (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 authorization from the Prime Minister or the national secretary for
National Defence. Partial or exhaustive reproduction is strictly forbidden.
Secret Défense (Secret Defence): Information deemed very harmful to national defence. Such information cannot be reproduced
without authorisation from the emitting authority, except in exceptional emergencies.
Confidentiel Défense (Confidential Defence): Information deemed potentially harmful to national defence, or that could lead to
uncovering some information classified at a higher level of security.
Less sensitive information is "protected". The levels are
Confidentiel personnels Officiers ("Confidential officers")

Confidentiel personnels Sous-Officiers ("Confidential non-commissioned officers")
Diffusion restreinte ("restricted information")
Diffusion restreinte administrateur ("administrative restricted information")
Non Protégé (unprotected)
A further caveat, spécial 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 défense 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 conveyor or habilitated person for mail under 20 kg. 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
overvoltage), or stored.
In case of unauthorized release of classified information, competent authorities are the Ministry of Interior, the 'Haut fonctionnaire de
défense et de sécurité ("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 seven years of imprisonment and a 100,000 euro fine; if the offence is
committed by imprudence or negligence, the penalties are three years of imprisonment and a 45,000 euro fine.
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:[31]
Top Secret (絕對機密)

Secret (高度機密)
Confidential (機密)
Temporary Confidential (臨時保密)

Restricted (限閱文件/內部文件)
Restricted (staff) (限閱文件(人事))

Restricted (tender) (限閱文件 (投標))
Restricted (administration) (限閱文件 (行政))
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.[32]
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.
Romania
In Romania, classified information is referred to as "state secrets" (secrete de stat) and is defined by the Penal Code as "documents and
data that manifestly appear to have this status or have been declared or qualified as such by decision of Government".[33] There are
three levels of classification—Secret, Top Secret, and Top Secret of Particular Importance.[34] The levels are set by the Romanian
Intelligence Service and must be aligned with NATO regulations—in case of conflicting regulations, the latter are applied with priority.
Dissemination of classified information to foreign agents or powers is punishable by up to life imprisonment, if such dissemination
threatens Romania's national security.[35]
Russia
In the Russian Federation, a state secret (Государственная тайна) 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, Hemlig,
Konfidentiell or Begränsat Hemlig), and an English classification (Top Secret, Secret, Confidential,
or Restricted). The term skyddad identitet, "protected identity", is used in the case of protection of a
threatened person, basically implying "secret identity", accessible only to certain members of the
police force and explicitly authorised officials.
KGB regulation seen in Museum of
Genocide Victims Vilnius
Switzerland
At the federal level, classified information in Switzerland is assigned one of three levels, which are from lowest to highest: Internal,
Confidential, Secret.[36] Respectively, these are, in German, Intern, Vertraulich, Geheim; in French, Interne, Confidentiel, Secret; in
Italian, Ad Uso Interno, Confidenziale, Segreto. As in other countries, the choice of classification depends on the potential impact that
the unauthorised release of the classified document would have on Switzerland, the federal authorities or the authorities of a foreign
government.
According to the Ordinance on the Protection of Federal Information, information is classified as Internal if its "disclosure to
unauthorised persons may be disadvantageous to national interests."[36] Information classified as Confidential could, if disclosed,
compromise "the free formation of opinions and decision-making of the Federal Assembly or the Federal Council," jeopardise national
monetary/economic policy, put the population at risk or adversely affect the operations of the Swiss
Armed Forces. Finally, the unauthorised release of Secret information could seriously compromise
the ability of either the Federal Assembly or the Federal Council to function or impede the ability of
the Federal Government or the Armed Forces to act.
Turkey
According to the related regulations in Turkey, there are four levels of document classification:[37]
çok gizli (top secret), gizli (secret), özel (confidential) and hizmete özel (restricted). The fifth is tasnif
dışı, which means unclassified.
United Kingdom
Until 2013, the United Kingdom used five levels of classification—from lowest to highest, they were:
Protect, Restricted, Confidential, Secret and Top Secret (formerly Most Secret). The Cabinet Office
provides guidance on how to protect information, including the security clearances required for
personnel. Staff may be required to sign to confirm their understanding and acceptance of the
Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989, although the Act applies regardless of signature. Protect is not in
itself a security protective marking level (such as Restricted or greater), but is used to indicate Some Swedish examples of
information which should not be disclosed because, for instance, the document contains tax, markings attached to documents
national insurance, or other personal information. that are to be kept secret. A single
frame around the text indicates
Government documents without a classification may be marked as Unclassified or Not Protectively Hemlig, which can be equal to either
Marked.[38] Secret, Confidential or Restricted.
Double frames means Kvalificerat
This system was replaced by the Government Security Classifications Policy, which has a simpler hemlig, that is, Top Secret.
model: Top Secret, Secret, and Official from April 2014.[12] Official Sensitive is a security marking
which may be followed by one of three authorised descriptors: Commercial, LocSen (location
sensitive) or Personal. Secret and Top Secret may include a caveat such as UK Eyes Only.
Also useful is that scientific discoveries may be classified via the D-Notice system if they are deemed
to have applications relevant to national security. These may later emerge when technology
improves so for example the specialised processors and routing engines used in graphics cards are
Security classifications in the UK
loosely based on top secret military chips designed for code breaking and image processing. They may or may not have safeguards built
in to generate errors when specific tasks are attempted and this is invariably independent of the card's operating system.
United States
The U.S. classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526 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.
The U.S. government insists it is "not appropriate" for a court to question whether any document is legally classified.[39] In the 1973 trial
of Daniel Ellsberg for releasing the Pentagon Papers, the judge did not allow any testimony from Ellsberg, claiming it was "irrelevant",
because the assigned classification could not be challenged. The charges against Ellsberg were ultimately dismissed after it was revealed
that the government had broken the law in secretly breaking into the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist and in tapping his telephone
without a warrant. Ellsberg insists that the legal situation in the U.S. in 2014 is worse than it was in 1973, and Edward Snowden could
not get a fair trial.[40] The State Secrets Protection Act of 2008 might have given judges the authority to review such questions in
camera, but the bill was not passed.[39]
When a government agency acquires classified information through covert means, or designates a program as classified, the agency
asserts "ownership" of that information and considers any public availability of it to be a violation of their ownership — even if the same
information was acquired independently through "parallel reporting" by the press or others. For example, although the CIA drone
program has been widely discussed in public since the early 2000s, and reporters personally observed and reported on drone missile
strikes, the CIA still considers the very existence of the program to be classified in its entirety, and any public discussion of it technically
constitutes exposure of classified information. "Parallel reporting" was an issue in determining what constitutes "classified" information
during the Hillary Clinton email controversy when Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Julia Frifield noted, "When policy
officials obtain information from open sources, 'think tanks,' experts, foreign government officials, or others, the fact that some of the
information may also have been available through intelligence channels does not mean that the information is necessarily
classified."[41][42][43]
Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries
(State) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Albania Teper Sekret Sekret Konfidencial I Kufizuar
Estrictamente Secreto y
Argentina Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Confidencial
Գաղտնի Ծառայողական
Հատուկ կարևորության Հույժ գաղտնի
Armenia օգտագործման համար
Of Special Importance Top Secret Secret[44] For Service Use
Retired 2018. No equivalent

level for historical classification
US, French, EU, Japan

Australia Top Secret Secret[21] "Confidential" marking to Protected
be handled as
SECRET. [45]
Austria Streng Geheim Geheim Vertraulich Eingeschränkt

Beperkte Verspreiding /
Belgium Zeer Geheim / Très Secret Geheim / Secret Vertrouwelijk / Confidentiel
Diffusion restreinte
Supersecreto
Bolivia Secreto Confidencial Reservado
or Muy Secreto
Bosnia and Herzegovina Vrlo tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Interno

no equivalent (formerly
Brazil Ultrassecreto Secreto Reservado
Confidencial)
Strògo sèkretno Sèkretno Poveritèlno Za služebno polzvàne

Bulgaria
Строго секретно Секретно Поверително За служебно ползване
Cambodia Sam Ngat Bamphot Sam Ngat Roeung Art Kambang Ham Kom Psay
Protected A, B or C/Protégé
Canada Top Secret/Très secret Secret/Secret Confidential/Confidentiel
A, B ou C
Chile Secreto Secreto Reservado Reservado
China Juémì (绝密) Jīmì (机密) Mìmì (秘密) Nèibù (内部)
Colombia Ultrasecreto Secreto Confidencial Reserva del sumario
Costa Rica Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial

Croatia Vrlo tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Ograničeno
Czech Republic Přísně tajné Tajné Důvěrné Vyhrazené
Til Tjenestebrug (TTJ)
Foreign Service:
Denmark Yderst Hemmeligt (YHM) Hemmeligt (HEM) Fortroligt (FTR)
Fortroligt
(thin black border)
Ecuador Secretisimo Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Sirriy lil-Ġāyah Sirriy Ǧiddan Khāṣ Maḥzūr

Egypt
‫سري للغاية‬ ‫سري جدًا‬ ‫خاص‬ ‫محظور‬
El Salvador Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Estonia Täiesti salajane Salajane Konfidentsiaalne Piiratud
Ethiopia ብርቱ ምስጢር ምስጢር ጥብቅ ክልክል

Tres Secret UE / EU Top Confidentiel UE / EU
European Union (EU) Secret UE / EU Secret Restreint UE / EU Restricted
Secret Confidential
European Union (Western)

Focal top secret WEU Secret WEU Confidential WEU Restricted
(WEU)
Euratom EURA Top Secret EURA Secret EURA Confidential EURA Restricted
Finland[a] Erittäin salainen (TL I) Salainen (TL II) Luottamuksellinen (TL III) Käyttö rajoitettu (TL IV)
France Très secret Secret Secret Diffusion restreinte
VS-Nur Für Den

Germany Streng Geheim Geheim VS-Vertraulich
Dienstgebrauch
Περιορισμένης
Greece Άκρως Απόρρητον Απόρρητον Εμπιστευτικόν
Χρήσης
Guatemala Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Haiti Top Secret Secret Confidential Reserve
Honduras Super Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Restricted, 內部文件/限閱文
Hong Kong Top Secret, 高度機密 Secret, 機密 Confidential, 保密
件
Hungary Szigorúan Titkos Titkos Bizalmas Korlátozott Terjesztésű
प्रतिबंधित/सीमित
India (Hindi) परम गुप्त (Param Gupt) गुप्त (Gupt) गोपनीय (Gopniya)
(Pratibandhit/seemit)
India (English) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Indonesia Sangat Rahasia Rahasia Rahasia Dinas Terbatas
Kheili-Mahramaneh ‫خیلی‬
Iran Bekoli-Serri ‫بکلی سری‬ Serri ‫سری‬ Mahramaneh ‫محرمانه‬
‫محرمانه‬
Sirriy lil-Ġāyah Sirriy Khāṣ Maḥdūd
Iraq
‫سري للغاية‬ ‫سري‬ ‫خاص‬ ‫محدود‬
Iceland Algert Leyndarmál Leyndarmál Trúnaðarmál Þjónustuskjal
Ireland (Irish language) An-sicréideach Sicréideach Rúnda Srianta

Sodi Beyoter Sodi Shamur Mugbal
Israel
‫סודי ביותר‬ ‫סודי‬ ‫שמור‬ ‫מוגבל‬
Italy Segretissimo Segreto Riservatissimo Riservato
Toriatsukaichuui (取り扱い注
Japan Kimitsu (機密) Gokuhi (極秘) Hi (秘)
意)
Maktūm Ǧiddan Maktūm Sirriy Maḥdūd

Jordan
‫مكتوم جدًا‬ ‫مكتوم‬ ‫سري‬ ‫محدود‬
1(Il)-geup Bimil, 1급 비밀, 一 2(I)-geup Bimil, 2급 비밀, 二 3(Sam)-geup Bimil, 3급 비밀, 三

South Korea Daeoebi, 대외비, 對外秘
級秘密級秘密級秘密
Laos Lup Sood Gnod Kuam Lup Kuam Lap Chum Kut Kon Arn
Latvia Sevišķi slepeni Slepeni Konfidenciāli Dienesta vajadzībām
Lebanon Tres Secret Secret Confidentiel
Lithuania Visiškai Slaptai Slaptai Konfidencialiai Riboto Naudojimo

Malaysia Rahsia Besar Rahsia Sulit Terhad
Mexico Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Restringido
Montenegro Strogo Tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Interno
Departementaal
Netherlands[46] STG. Zeer Geheim STG. Geheim STG. Confidentieel
Vertrouwelijk
New Zealand Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Nicaragua Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Norway Strengt Hemmelig Hemmelig Konfidensielt Begrenset

Intahai Khufia Khufia Sigh-e-Raz Barai Mahdud Taqsim
Pakistan (Urdu)
‫انتہائی خفیہ‬ ‫خفیہ‬ ‫صیخہ راز‬ ‫محدود تقسیم‬
Pakistan (English) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Paraguay Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado

Peru Estrictamente Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Philippines (English) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Philippines (Tagalog) Matinding Lihim Mahigpit na Lihim Lihim Ipinagbabawal
Poland Ściśle tajne Tajne Poufne Zastrzeżone
Portugal Muito Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado

Strict Secret de Importanță
Romania Strict Secret Secret Secret de serviciu
Deosebită
Секретно
Особой важности (вариант: Не подлежит Для Служебного
Совершенно секретно
(вариант: Совершенно оглашению Пользования (ДСП)
(вариант: Секретно
Секретно (Sovershenno (Конфиденциально) (Ne (Dlya Sluzhebnogo
(Sekretno))
Russia Sekretno)) podlezhit oglasheniyu Pol'zovaniya)
(Konfidentsial'no))
Of Special Importance Completely Secret For Official Use
Secret
Saudi Arabia Saudi Top Secret Saudi Very Secret Saudi Secret Saudi Restricted
Cyrillic: Државна тајна Cyrillic: Строго поверљиво Cyrillic: Поверљиво Cyrillic: Интерно
Serbia
Latin: Državna tajna Latin: Strogo poverljivo Latin: Poverljivo Latin: Interno
Singapore Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Somalia Sir Muhiim ah Sir Gooniya Xog Qarsoon Qarsoon

Slovak Republic Prísne tajné Tajné Dôverné Vyhradené
Slovenia Strogo tajno Tajno Zaupno Interno

Spain Secreto Reservado Confidencial Difusión Limitada
Sri Lanka අති රහස්‍ය රහස්‍ය රහසිගත සීමාන්විත
Kvalificerat hemlig (KH); Hemlig (H); Hemlig/Secret Konfidentiell; Begränsat hemlig;

Sweden
Hemlig/Top Secret (H/TS) (H/S) Hemlig/Confidential (H/C) Hemlig/Restricted (H/R)
Switzerland Geheim / Secret Vertraulich / Confidentiel Intern / Interne
Taiwan (Republic of
Top Secret (絕對機密) Secret (極機密) Confidential (機密) no direct equivalent
China)[47]
Tanzania (Swahili) Siri Kuu Siri Stiri Imezuiliwa
Thailand Lap thi sut ลับที่สุด) Lap mak ลับมาก) Lap ลับ) Pok pit ปกปิด)
Turkey Çok Gizli Gizli Özel Hizmete Özel

South Africa (English) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted
South Africa (Afrikaans) Uiters Geheim Geheim Vertroulik Beperk

Для службового
Ukraine Цілком таємно Таємно Конфіденційно
користування
(formerly Confidential) Official-Sensitive (formerly

United Kingdom Top Secret Secret
abolished in 2014[48] Restricted)
United States Top Secret Secret Confidential no direct equivalent
Uruguay Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Vietnam Tuyệt mật Tối mật Tài liệu mật Hạn chế phổ biến
Table notes:
a. Finland uses also uses the label Salassa pidettävä, "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.)
Table source: US Department of Defense (January 1995). "National Industrial Security Program - Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M)" (https://apps.dtic.mil/
dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a291750.pdf) (PDF). pp. B1 - B3 (PDF pages:121–123 ). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190727225319/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/
fulltext/u2/a291750.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
Corporate classification
Private corporations often require written confidentiality agreements and conduct background checks on candidates for sensitive
positions.[49] 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.
Traffic Light Protocol
The Traffic Light Protocol[50][51]

was developed by the Group of Eight 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.
See also
Cloak and dagger
Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (U.S.)
Espionage
Espionage Act of 1917 (U.S.)
Eyes only
Five Eyes
Golden Shield Project
Government Security Classifications Policy (UK)
Illegal number
Information security
Official Secrets Act (UK, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand)
Security of Information Act (Canada)
State Secrets Privilege (US)
Wassenaar Arrangement
WikiLeaks
UKUSA Agreement
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External links
Defence Vetting Agency (http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/SecurityandIntelligence/DVA/DefenceVettin
gAgency.htm). Carries out national security checks in the UK.
Peter Galison, Removing Knowledge (http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/bios/docs/Removing%20Knowledge.pdf) in Critical
Inquiry n°31 (Autumn 2004).
Goldman, Jan, & Susan Maret. Intelligence and information policy for national security: Key terms and concepts. Rowman &
Littlefield, 2016.
Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth, & K. Lee Lerner, eds. Terrorism: Essential primary sources. Thomson Gale, 2006.
Los Alamos table of equivalent US and UK classifications (https://web.archive.org/web/20120510051228/http://badge.lanl.gov/uk-us
a_classification.shtml)
Maret, Susan. On their own terms: A lexicon with an emphasis on information-related terms produced by the U.S. federal
government. [1] (https://fas.org/sgp/library/maret.pdf), FAS, 6th ed., 2016.
Marking Classified National Security Information (https://www.archives.gov/isoo/training/marking-booklet.pdf) ISOO booklet.
The National Security Archive (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/) – a collection of declassified documents acquired through the FOIA.
Parliament of Montenegro (http://www.skupstina.me/index.php?strana=zakoni&id=618), Law on confidentiality of data. (in Serbian).

Parliament of Serbia (http://www.parlament.gov.rs/upload/archive/files/lat/pdf/zakoni/2009/2502-09Lat.zip), Law on confidentiality of
data. (in Serbian).
U.S. Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program - Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M) (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20110807094949/http://www.dss.mil/isp/odaa/nispom06.html), explaining rules and policies for handling classified information.
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2/5/24, 4:29 PM Classified information - Wikipedia

Typical classification levels

Top Secret (TS)

KGB's "List of traitors to the

A plethora of pseudo-classifications exist under this category.

1. COSMIC Top Secret (CTS)

COSMIC is an acronym for "Control of Secret Material in an International Command".[16]

Codewords (sensitive compartmented information)

EXCLUSIVE FOR (named person)

Australian Eyes Only (AUSTEO)

Background and hierarchy

Special operational information

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

People's Republic of China

1. Major policy decisions on state affairs

Secrets can be classified into three categories:

Less sensitive information is "protected". The levels are

Confidentiel personnels Officiers ("Confidential officers")

Four classifications exists in Hong Kong, from highest to lowest in sensitivity:[31]

Top Secret (絕對機密)

Temporary Confidential (臨時保密)

Restricted (staff) (限閱文件(人事))

Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries

(State) Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted

Albania Teper Sekret Sekret Konfidencial I Kufizuar

Retired 2018. No equivalent

US, French, EU, Japan

Austria Streng Geheim Geheim Vertraulich Eingeschränkt

Bosnia and Herzegovina Vrlo tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Interno

Strògo sèkretno Sèkretno Poveritèlno Za služebno polzvàne

Chile Secreto Secreto Reservado Reservado

China Juémì (绝密) Jīmì (机密) Mìmì (秘密) Nèibù (内部)

Colombia Ultrasecreto Secreto Confidencial Reserva del sumario

Costa Rica Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial

Czech Republic Přísně tajné Tajné Důvěrné Vyhrazené

Til Tjenestebrug (TTJ)

Ecuador Secretisimo Secreto Confidencial Reservado

Sirriy lil-Ġāyah Sirriy Ǧiddan Khāṣ Maḥzūr

Estonia Täiesti salajane Salajane Konfidentsiaalne Piiratud

Ethiopia ብርቱ ምስጢር ምስጢር ጥብቅ ክልክል

European Union (Western)

France Très secret Secret Secret Diffusion restreinte

VS-Nur Für Den

Haiti Top Secret Secret Confidential Reserve

Honduras Super Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado

Hungary Szigorúan Titkos Titkos Bizalmas Korlátozott Terjesztésű

Indonesia Sangat Rahasia Rahasia Rahasia Dinas Terbatas

Iceland Algert Leyndarmál Leyndarmál Trúnaðarmál Þjónustuskjal

Ireland (Irish language) An-sicréideach Sicréideach Rúnda Srianta

Italy Segretissimo Segreto Riservatissimo Riservato

Maktūm Ǧiddan Maktūm Sirriy Maḥdūd

1(Il)-geup Bimil, 1급 비밀, 一 2(I)-geup Bimil, 2급 비밀, 二 3(Sam)-geup Bimil, 3급 비밀, 三

Lebanon Tres Secret Secret Confidentiel

Lithuania Visiškai Slaptai Slaptai Konfidencialiai Riboto Naudojimo

Mexico Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Restringido

Montenegro Strogo Tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Interno

Nicaragua Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado

Norway Strengt Hemmelig Hemmelig Konfidensielt Begrenset