Classified information







A typical classified document. Page 13 of a U.S. National Security Agency report[1] 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.


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, and intentionally mishandling of the material can incur criminal penalties. A formal security clearance is required to view or handle classified documents or to access classified data. 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, which include how to determine the classification of an information asset, and rules on how to protect information classified at each level. This often includes security clearances for personnel handling the information. Although "classified information" refers to the formal categorization and marking of material by level of sensitivity, it has also developed a sense synonymous with "censored" in US English. A distinction is often made between formal security classification and privacy markings such as "commercial in confidence". Classifications can be used with additional keywords that give more detailed instructions on how data should be used or protected.


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 a bit less sensitive, or becomes much 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 example at right.




Contents





  • 1 Government classification


  • 2 Typical classification levels

    • 2.1 Top Secret (TS)


    • 2.2 Secret


    • 2.3 Confidential


    • 2.4 Restricted


    • 2.5 Official


    • 2.6 Unclassified


    • 2.7 Clearance


    • 2.8 Compartmented information



  • 3 International

    • 3.1 NATO classifications


    • 3.2 International organisations



  • 4 By country

    • 4.1 Australia


    • 4.2 Brazil


    • 4.3 Canada

      • 4.3.1 Background and hierarchy


      • 4.3.2 Special operational information


      • 4.3.3 Classified information


      • 4.3.4 Protected information



    • 4.4 People's Republic of China


    • 4.5 France


    • 4.6 Hong Kong


    • 4.7 New Zealand


    • 4.8 Romania


    • 4.9 Russia


    • 4.10 Sweden


    • 4.11 United Kingdom


    • 4.12 United States


    • 4.13 Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries



  • 5 Corporate classification


  • 6 Traffic Light Protocol


  • 7 See also


  • 8 References


  • 9 External links




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.


However, classified information is frequently "leaked" to reporters by officials for political purposes. Several U.S. presidents have leaked sensitive information to get their point across to the public.[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)




KGB traitors list seen in Museum of Genocide Victims Vilnius: originally marked top secret


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 Secret in order to simplify Allied interoperability.


The Washington Post reports in an investigation entitled Top Secret America, that per 2010 "An estimated 854,000 people ... hold top-secret security clearances" in the United States.[7]



Secret



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"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.[8] As of 2010[update], Executive Order 13526 bans classification of documents simply to "conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error" or "prevent embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency".[9]



Secret material would cause "serious damage" to national security if it were publicly available.[10]


In the United States, operational "Secret" information can be marked with an additional "LIMDIS", to limit distribution.



Confidential


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 classification replaced the Confidential and Restricted classifications in April 2014 in the UK.[12]



Unclassified


Unclassified is technically not a classification level, but this is a feature of some classification schemes, used for government documents that do not merit a particular classification or which have been declassified. This is because the information is low-impact, and therefore does not require any special protection, such as vetting of personnel.


A plethora of pseudo-classifications exist under this category.



Clearance


Clearance is a general classification, that comprises a variety of rules controlling the level of permission required to view some classified 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, additional compartmented constraints on access exist, 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. Information in these compartments is usually marked with specific keywords in addition to the classification level.


Government information about nuclear weapons often has an additional marking to show it contains such information (CNWDI).



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).



NATO classifications


For example, sensitive information shared amongst NATO allies has four levels of security classification; from most to least classified:[13]


  1. COSMIC TOP SECRET (CTS)

  2. NATO SECRET (NS)

  3. NATO CONFIDENTIAL (NC)

  4. NATO RESTRICTED (NR)

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.



International organisations



  • European Institutions, have four levels: EU TOP SECRET, EU SECRET, EU CONFIDENTIAL, EU RESTRICTED.[14] (Note that usually the French term is used.[citation needed])

    • 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.[15]


  • ECIPS, the European Centre for Information Policy and Security, has 4 levels of Security Information, COSMIC (TOP SECRET), EC-SECRET, EC-CONFIDENTIAL and EC-COMMITTEES.


By country




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 restricted material" de:Verschlusssache.


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.[16]


Documents marked Sensitive Cabinet, relating to discussions in Federal Cabinet, are treated as PROTECTED at minimum due to its higher sensitivity.



Brazil


There are three levels of document classification under Brazilian Information Access Law: 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. 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 December 24, 2001, replacing the Official Secrets Act 1981.[17] 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.[18]



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: 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.[19][20]


  • 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).[21]



People's Republic of China




A building in Wuhan housing provincial offices for dealing with foreign countries etc. The red slogan says, "Protection of national secrets is a duty of every citizen".


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,"[22] 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

  3. Diplomatic activities and in activities related to foreign countries 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

  7. Any other matters classified as "state secrets" by the national State Secrets Bureau[23]

Secrets can be classified into three categories:


  • Top secret (绝密): defined as "vital state secrets whose disclosure would cause extremely serious harm to state security and national interests"

  • Highly secret (机密): defined as "important state secrets whose disclosure would cause serious harm to state security and national interests"

  • Secret (秘密): defined as "ordinary state secrets whose disclosure would cause harm to state security and national interests"[23]


France


In France, classified information is defined by article 413-9 of the Penal Code.[24] The three levels of military classification are



  • Très Secret Défense (Very Secret Defence): Information deemed extremely harmful to national defense,[citation needed] and relative to governmental priorities in national defense. 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 defense. 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 defense, 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 convoyer 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 7 years of imprisonment and a 100,000 Euro fine; if the offence is committed by imprudence or negligence, the penalties are 3 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:[25]


  • 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.[26]



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".[27] There are three levels of classification—Secret, Top Secret, and Top Secret of Particular Importance.[28] 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.[29]




KGB Regulation seen in Museum of Genocide Victims Vilnius



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




Some Swedish examples of markings attached to documents that are to be kept secret. A single frame around the text indicates Hemlig, which can be equal to either Secret, Confidential or Restricted. Double frames means Kvalificerat hemlig, that is, Top Secret.


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).[citation needed] 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.



United Kingdom




Security classifications in the UK



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 information which should not be disclosed because, for instance, the document contains tax, national insurance, or other personal information.


Government documents without a classification may be marked as UNCLASSIFIED or NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED.[30]


This system was replaced by the Government Security Classifications Policy, which has a simpler 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.



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.[31] 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. today is worse than it was in 1973, and Edward Snowden could not get a fair trial.[32] 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.[31]



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
Eingeschränkt

Belgium
Zeer Geheim / Très Secret
Geheim / Secret
Vertrouwelijk / Confidentiel
Beperkte Verspreiding / Diffusion restreinte

Bolivia
Supersecreto
or Muy Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strogo povjerljivo
Tajno
Konfidencialno
Restriktivno

Brazil
Ultrassecreto
Secreto
no equivalent (formerly Confidencial)
Reservado

Bulgaria
Строго секретно
Секретно
Поверително
За служебно ползване

Cambodia
Sam Ngat Bamphot
Sam Ngat Roeung
Art Kambang
Ham Kom Psay

Canada
Top Secret/Très secret
Secret/Secret
Confidential/Confidentiel
Protected A, B or C / Protégé A, B ou C

Chile
Secreto
Secreto
Reservado
Reservado

China, People's Republic of
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

Denmark
Yderst Hemmeligt
Hemmeligt
Fortroligt
Til Tjenestebrug

Foreign Service:

Fortroligt

(thin Black border)



Ecuador
Secretisimo
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Egypt

Sirriy lil-Ġāyah
سري للغاية

Sirriy Ǧiddan
سري جداً

Khāṣ
خاص

Maḥzūr
محظور

El Salvador
Ultra Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Estonia
Täiesti 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
Erittäin salainen (ST I)
Salainen (ST II)
Luottamuksellinen (ST III)
Käyttö rajoitettu (ST IV)

France
Très secret défense
Secret défense
Confidentiel défense
Diffusion restreinte

Germany
STRENG GEHEIM
GEHEIM
VS-VERTRAULICH
VS-NUR FÜR DEN DIENSTGEBRAUCH

Greece
Άκρως Απόρρητον
Απόρρητον
Εμπιστευτικόν
Περιορισμένης
Χρήσης

Guatemala
Alto Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Haiti
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Reserve

Honduras
Super Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Hong Kong
Top Secret, 高度機密
Secret, 機密
Confidential, 保密
Restricted, 內部文件/限閱文件

Hungary
Szigorúan Titkos
Titkos
Bizalmas
Korlátozott Terjesztésű

India (Hindi)
परम गुप्त (Param Gupt)
गुप्त (Gupt)
गोपनीय (Gopniya)
प्रतिबंधित/सीमित (Pratibandhit/seemit)

India (English)
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted

Indonesia
Sangat Rahasia
Rahasia
Rahasia Dinas
Terbatas

Iran
Bekoli-Serri بکلی سری
Serri سری
Kheili-Mahramaneh خیلی محرمانه
Mahramaneh محرمانه

Iraq

Sirriy lil-Ġāyah
سري للغاية

Sirriy
سري

Khāṣ
خاص

Maḥdūd
محدود

Iceland
Algert Leyndarmál
Leyndarmál
Trúnaðarmál
Þjónustuskjal

Ireland (Irish language)
An-sicreideach
Sicreideach
Runda
Srianta

Israel
Sodi Beyoter
סודי ביותר
Sodi
סודי
Shamur
שמור
Mugbal
מוגבל

Italy
Segretissimo
Segreto
Riservatissimo
Riservato

Japan
Kimitsu, 機密
Gokuhi, 極秘
Hi, 秘
Toriatsukaichuui, 取り扱い注意

Jordan

Maktūm Ǧiddan
مكتوم جداً

Maktūm
مكتوم

Sirriy
سري

Maḥdūd
محدود

Korea, South
I(Il)-geup Bimil, 1급비밀
II(I)-geup Bimil, 2급비밀
III(Sam)-geup Bimil, 3급비밀
Daeoebi, 대외비

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

Netherlands[33]
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
انتہائی خفیہ
Khufia
خفیہ
Sigh-e-Raz
صیخہ راز
Barai Mahdud Taqsim
محدود تقسیم

Pakistan (English)
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted

Paraguay
Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Peru
Estrictamente Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Philippines (English)

Philippines (Tagalog)


Top Secret

Matinding Lihim


Secret

Mahigpit na Lihim


Confidential

Lihim


Restricted

Ipinagbabawal



Poland
Ściśle tajne
Tajne
Poufne
Zastrzeżone

Portugal
Muito Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Romania
Strict Secret de Importanță Deosebită
Strict Secret
Secret
Secret de serviciu

Russia
Особой важности
(вариант: Совершенно Секретно (Sovershenno Sekretno))
Совершенно секретно
(вариант: Секретно (Sekretno))
Секретно
(вариант: Не подлежит оглашению
(Конфиденциально) (Ne podlezhit oglasheniyu (Konfidentsial'no))
Для Служебного Пользования (ДСП)
(Dlya Sluzhebnogo Pol'zovaniya)

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Top Secret
Saudi Very Secret
Saudi Secret
Saudi Restricted

Serbia
Latin: Državna tajna
Cyrillic: Државна тајна
Latin: Strogo poverljivo
Cyrillic: Строго поверљиво
Latin: Poverljivo
Cyrillic: Поверљиво
Latin: Interno
Cyrillic: Интерно

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

Sweden
Kvalificerat Hemlig (KH); Hemlig/Top Secret (H/TS)
Hemlig (H); Hemlig/Secret H/S)
Hemlig/Confidential (H/C)
Hemlig/Restricted (H/R)

Switzerland

GEHEIM / SECRET
VERTRAULICH / CONFIDENTIEL
INTERN / INTERNE

Taiwan (Republic of China)[34]
Top Secret (絕對機密)
Secret (極機密)
Confidential (機密)
no direct equivalent

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

Ukraine
Цілком таємно
Таємно
Конфіденційно
Для службового користування

United Kingdom
TOP SECRET
SECRET
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE (formerly CONFIDENTIAL)
OFFICIAL (formerly RESTRICTED)

United States
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
no direct equivalent

Uruguay
Ultra Secreto
Secreto
Confidencial
Reservado

Vietnam
Tuyệt Mật
Tối Mật
Mật
Phổ Biến Hạn Chế

Original source: NISPOM Appendix B[35]
¹ In addition, Finland uses 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.)



Corporate classification


Private corporations often require written confidentiality agreements and conduct background checks on candidates for sensitive positions.[36] 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[37][38] 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




  • Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (U.S.)

  • Espionage


  • Espionage Act of 1917 (U.S.)

  • Eyes only


  • 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

  • Five Eyes

  • Golden Shield Project



References




  1. ^ "United States Cryptologic History: Attack on a Sigint Collector, the U.S.S. Liberty" (PDF). NSA.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-14..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em


  2. ^ Turner, Stansfield (2005). Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors and Secret Intelligence. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9780786867820.


  3. ^ Goldsmith, Jack (29 September 2010). "Classified Information in Woodward's 'Obama's Wars'". Lawfare. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  4. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2. ed., [Nachdr.] ed.). New York [u.a.]: Random House. 2004. ISBN 0375425993.


  5. ^ Defense Technical Information Center (April 1997). "DoD Guide to Marking Classified Documents". dtic.mil.


  6. ^ Federation of American Scientists (June 8, 2013). "Chapter 7. CLASSIFICATION LEVELS". fas.org.


  7. ^ Priest, Dana; Arkin, William (19 July 2010). "A hidden world, growing beyond control". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  8. ^ Atomic Energy Commission's Declassification Review of Reports on Human Experiments and the Public Relations and Legal Liability Consequences Archived 2013-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, presented as evidence during the 1994 ACHRE hearings.


  9. ^ Section 1.7 (1) and (2).


  10. ^ United States Coast Guard. "E-PME Enlisted PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION Reporting Unsecured and Securing Classified Material 4.G.03" (PDF). uscg.mil.
    [permanent dead link]



  11. ^ George Washington University. "ATTACHMENT 2 AR 320-5, CLASSIFICATION OFC. Army Regulations (1936)". gwu.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-06-16.


  12. ^ ab Government Security Classifications April 2014. HMG Cabinet Office. October 2013.


  13. ^ Internet, JSK. "OCHRONA INFORMACJI NIEJAWNYCH MIĘDZYNARODOWYCH W SFERZE CYWILNEJ I WOJSKOWEJ - Ochrona informacji niejawnych międzynarodowych w sferze cywilnej i wojskowej - BIP - Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego". www.bip.abw.gov.pl.


  14. ^ "Decision of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information". Official Journal of the European Union. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  15. ^ "306652_CM6554" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-05-25. Retrieved 2012-11-14.


  16. ^ Information security management guidelines (PDF), Attorney-General's Department, 18 July 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2013, retrieved 14 July 2013


  17. ^ Security of Information Act, Archived January 16, 2008, at Archive-It


  18. ^ "Industrial Security Services - Frequently Asked Questions". Public Works and Government Services Canada. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.


  19. ^ "ARCHIVED - Non-Insured Health Benefits Program: Privacy Code, 2005 (Appendix II)". Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch. 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  20. ^ Security Policy - Manager's Handbook Archived June 1, 2005, at the Wayback Machine


  21. ^ "Archived - Access to Information Guidelines - Confidences of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada". Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. 2015. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  22. ^ Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, "Law on Guarding State Secrets" (中华人民共和国保守国家秘密法), promulgated 1988 and effective 1989.


  23. ^ ab Translation per Human Rights in China, State Secrets: China's Legal Labyrinth, (2007).


  24. ^ "Code pénal - Article 413-9". Legifrance. 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  25. ^ [1] Archived December 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine


  26. ^ LCQ3: Equal Opportunities Commission Archived December 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine


  27. ^ "Penal Code of Romania, art. 150". Retrieved January 28, 2013.


  28. ^ "Law no. 182/2002 on protection of classified information". Retrieved January 28, 2013.


  29. ^ "Penal Code of Romania, art. 157". Retrieved January 28, 2013.


  30. ^ "Understanding the Security Policy Framework & frequently asked questions". Cabinet Office. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2015.


  31. ^ ab
    Aftergood, Steven (August 27, 2014). "Gov't Resists Court Review of State Secrets". Secrecy News. Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2014-09-26.



  32. ^ Ellsberg, Daniel (30 May 2014). "Daniel Ellsberg: Snowden would not get a fair trial – and Kerry is wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-09-26.


  33. ^ "Wet- en regelgeving - Besluit voorschrift informatiebeveiliging rijksdienst – bijzondere informatie - BWBR0016435" (in Dutch). Wetten.overheid.nl. Retrieved 2013-07-04.


  34. ^ "The Classified National Security Information Protection Act". 2003-02-06. Retrieved 2014-03-26.


  35. ^ [2][dead link]


  36. ^ "Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse". Privacyrights.org. Retrieved 2011-12-12.


  37. ^ "Development of Policies for Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures" (PDF). Cecd.ord. Retrieved 2012-11-14.


  38. ^ "'Re: OpenSSH security advisory: cbc.adv' - MARC". Marc.info. Retrieved 2011-12-12.



External links



  • US "NISPOM" manual, explaining rules on classified information among other things - full title is "National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual".


  • Marking Classified National Security Information ISOO booklet PDF


  • Defence Vetting Agency. Carries out national security checks in the UK.

  • Los Alamos table of equivalent US and UK classifications


  • The Black Vault - a database of more than a half million declassified pages on many different topics, all acquired through the FOIA


  • The National Security Archive - 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 in Critical Inquiry n°31 (Autumn 2004)


  • Parliament of Serbia, Law on confidentiality of data. (in Serbian)


  • Parliament of Montenegro, Law on confidentiality of data. (in Serbian)


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