The Public Interest Declassification Board has offered some excellent proposals to improve the broken security classification system. To reverse the disturbing trends of massive overclassification and decreasing openness, to put declassification activities on a firmer budgetary foundation, and to focus resources toward protecting true national security secrets, the National Security Archive proposes levying a classification … Continue reading Bill Burr and Nate Jones, National Security Archive: “Three Ideas for Transformation: Classification Tax, Equity Reform, and Sunshine Dates”
Category: Declassification
Ann Levin, CACI: “Self-Declassifying Documents: A System for Letting the Data Identify When It is Ready for Declassification”
Background The creation of the National Declassification Center (NDC) by President Obama in December 2009 specifies the centralization and streamlining of all declassification processes with the objective of shortening the time to declassify a document. This enormous task mandates the use of the newest technology to assist with streamlining processes as well as creating consistent, … Continue reading Ann Levin, CACI: “Self-Declassifying Documents: A System for Letting the Data Identify When It is Ready for Declassification”
Elizabeth Goitein, Brennan Center for Justice: “Reducing Overclassification Through Accountability”
A “fundamental transformation” of the classification system, as proposed by President Obama, is long overdue. Experts of all political stripes have agreed for decades that overclassification is rampant and that it carries unacceptable costs—to national security, to representative democracy, and to the public fisc. The extent and persistence of the problem underscore the need for … Continue reading Elizabeth Goitein, Brennan Center for Justice: “Reducing Overclassification Through Accountability”
A Half Life for Historical Formerly Restricted Data (FRD)
Background Classified information concerning the technical design and manufacture of atomic weapons and the production or use of special nuclear material in the production of energy is categorized as Restricted Data (RD) by the Department of Energy (DOE) under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) is a separate category of information … Continue reading A Half Life for Historical Formerly Restricted Data (FRD)
Stewardship of Our Classified History
The Problem The current records management system does not ensure those records of historical significance are identified in such a way as to promote their timely review for declassification and public release. With greater reliance on digital records to decide policies and conduct missions, there is a great danger that, unless changes are made, our … Continue reading Stewardship of Our Classified History
Information Security and Access in the Electronic Environment
Background Individuals generating or working with classified information are required to obey established procedures for accessing, annotating, handling, and safeguarding that information. The system is managed much as it was before the advent of digital communication. Protocols governing these transactions were developed at the beginning of the Cold War and reflect the paper-based world in … Continue reading Information Security and Access in the Electronic Environment
Regularizing the Declassification Review of Classified Congressional Records
The Problem The current process by which classified Congressional records are transferred to the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), reviewed for declassification, and released to the public does not adequately reflect the importance of these records and the special status they must enjoy as records of the Legislative Branch that are managed by the … Continue reading Regularizing the Declassification Review of Classified Congressional Records
Discretionary Declassification and Release of Contemporary National Security Information
The Problem Classification and declassification decisions are based on risk assessments and time-based standards for withholding. Agencies determine whether to protect information through classification by evaluating the damage its release would cause to the national security. Information deemed worthy of classification is marked as such, assigned a declassification date based on its perceived sensitivity, and … Continue reading Discretionary Declassification and Release of Contemporary National Security Information
Simplifying the Declassification Review Process for Historical Records
The Problem National security records frequently contain classified information from more than one agency. Under Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information” (the Order), only the agency that creates classified information can declassify it. [1] If an agency produces a record containing its own information as well as information from one or more other agencies, … Continue reading Simplifying the Declassification Review Process for Historical Records
About Transforming Classification
Transforming Classification: An Introduction Welcome to Transforming Classification, a blog sponsored by the Public Interest Declassification Board. President Obama has charged the Board with designing a more fundamental transformation of the security classification system. In response to his request, we are proposing new solutions that address the shortcomings of the current system and tackle the … Continue reading About Transforming Classification