Classified information

Classified Information is a term used to denote material or knowledge, which the government or certain other entities require to be kept secret in the interest of national security or other pertinent reasons. The classification of information can be done on various levels, such as confidential, secret, and top secret, depending on the potential impact of the information if it were to be disclosed.

Definition

Classified information refers to data, documents, or material that has been judged by an appropriate authority to be sensitive to national security and hence, needs to be protected from unauthorized disclosure. The process of determining the level of sensitivity and the need for protection is known as classification.

Classification Levels

There are typically three levels of classification for classified information:

• Confidential: This is the lowest level of classification. The unauthorized disclosure of confidential information could cause damage to national security.

• Secret: This is the mid-level classification. The unauthorized disclosure of secret information could cause serious damage to national security.

• Top Secret: This is the highest level of classification. The unauthorized disclosure of top secret information could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.

Handling and Protection

The handling and protection of classified information are governed by a set of rules and regulations, often referred to as information security policies. These policies dictate who can access the information, how it should be stored and transmitted, and when it can be declassified.

Declassification

Declassification is the process of removing the classified status from information. This typically happens when the sensitivity of the information has diminished over time or when the information has been made public legally.

Legal Implications

Unauthorized disclosure of classified information can lead to legal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. In the United States, for example, such offenses are covered under the Espionage Act of 1917.

See Also

• Information security
• Espionage Act of 1917
• National security
• Declassification