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The Public Interest Declassification Board will host a Public Forum on Thursday, May 26, 2011 on Transforming the National Security Classification System.  The meeting will focus on the Board’s eight draft White Papers on transforming classification, the White Papers submitted by the public for the Blog, and additional ideas you have on transforming the classification … Continue reading May 26th Public Forum on Transforming Classification

Now that you have had the opportunity to review and comment on the Board’s draft proposals for transforming the classification system, we would like to invite you to submit your own specific ideas.  Submissions should: Provide transformative but plausible ideas and actionable implementation strategies Promote innovation and especially address the challenges of classified digital data … Continue reading Submit Your Own Transformation White Paper

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)

The PIDB would like to invite you to post your comments on two new proposals for transforming the classification system. The new topics concern: Paper 5: Stewardship of Our Classified History Paper 6: Information Security and Access in the Electronic Environment A forthcoming paper will address historical Formerly Restricted Data. Additionally, be sure to mark … Continue reading Two New Papers

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

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

The PIDB looks forward to hearing your comments on the following new papers: Paper 3:  Regularizing the Declassification Review of Classified Congressional Records Systematize and prioritize the declassification review of Legislative records at the NDC Paper 4:  Discretionary Declassification and Release of Contemporary National Security Information Encourage policymakers to consider the advantages of not classifying … Continue reading Three New Papers

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

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

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