 | Classified information in the United States: Encyclopedia II - Classified information in the United States - Categories that are not classifications
Classified information in the United States - Categories that are not classifications
There are also compartments, or "code words", which pertain to specific projects, and are used to more easily manage which individuals require certain information. Code words are not levels of classification themselves, but a person working on project X may have the code word for that project added to his file, and then will be given access to the relevant documents. Code words may also label the sources of various documents; for example, there are code words used to indicate that a document may break the cover of intelligence operatives if its content becomes known. The WWII code word ULTRA identified information found by decrypting German ciphers, such as the Enigma machine, and which — regardless of its own significance — might inform the Germans that Enigma was broken if they became aware that it was known.
The United States also has a system of "restrictions" which can be added to a document; these are constantly changing, but can include (in abbreviated form) a requirement that the document not be shared with civilian contractor, or not leave a specific room. Some of these include NOFORN, meaning no distribution to foreign nationals, NOCONTRACTOR, meaning no distribution to contract personnel, CRYPTO, meaning methods involved in encrypting communications between government agencies, and CCO, meaning handle by COMINT (communications intelligence) channels only. These restrictions are not classifications in and of themselves, rather, they restrict the dissemination of information within those who have the appropriate clearance level and possibly the "need to know" the information. Remarks such as "eyes only" also limit the restriction. One violating these directives might be guilty of violating a lawful order or mishandling classified information.
Classified information in the United States - Restricted data
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 sets requirements for protection of information about nuclear weapons and special nuclear materials. Such information is "classified from birth," unlike all other sensitive information which must be classified by some authorized individual. Documents containing such information must be marked "RESTRICTED DATA" (RD) or "FORMERLY RESTRICTED DATA" (FRD) in addition to any other classification marking. Persons accessing such data require special clearances from the U.S. Department of Energy. For example, a Q clearance is required for access to Top Secret-Restricted Data.
Classified information in the United States - Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information
Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) is a U.S. Department of Defense category of TOP SECRET Restricted Data or SECRET Restricted Data that reveals the theory of operation or design of the components of a nuclear weapon. Access to CNWDI is supposed to be kept to the minimum number of individuals needed.
Classified information in the United States - Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information
While most Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information is sensitive, it may or may not be classified. The United States Navy recognizes that the public has an interest in environmental, safety, and health information, and that the basic research the Navy carries out can be useful to industry.
Classified information in the United States - Yankee White Clearance
Contrary to popular lore, the Yankee White clearance given to personnel who work directly with the President is not a classification. Individuals having Yankee White clearances undergo extensive background investigation. Yankee White cleared personnel are granted access to any information for which they have a need-to-know, regardless of which organization classified it or at what level. The Yankee White clearance includes a requirement for absolute absence of any foreign influence on the individual. This means they must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, not be or have been married to a person of foreign descent, or have travelled to countries that are considered to be unfriendly to the United States. [3]
Other related archives2003, Atomic Energy Act, CIA, Classified information, Controlled Cryptographic Item, Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information, Data remanence, Department of Energy, Enigma machine, Espionage, Espionage Act, Executive Order 13292, Freedom of Information Act, General Services Administration, HUMINT, Information, Information Security Oversight Office, Invention Secrecy Act, JFK assassination, List of U.S. security clearance terms, NATO, National Security Agency, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, President George W. Bush, Privacy, SCIF, SIGINT, SIPRNet, Secrecy News, State security, The Pentagon Papers, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Archives, U.S. government secrecy, UFO, ULTRA, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Government, United States Navy, WWII, Work of the United States Government, World War II, Yankee White, approved encryption systems, bank vaults, classification system, classified from birth, combination lock, executive orders, export controls, national security, natural-born citizen, nuclear weapons, operating systems, physical security, privacy, registered mail, remote viewing, shoulder surfing, shredding, special nuclear materials, trusted operating systems
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Categories that are not classifications", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
