OVERUSE OF CRYPTONYMS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02259238
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2021
• Case Number: F-2019-00184
• Publication Date: October 9, 1951

Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
9 October 1951
SUBJECT: Overuse of Cryptonyms
1. It is observed that the readability of cables and
dispatches is being hampered in many cases by the unnecessary
and pointless use of cryptonyms.
2. The limitation of the use of cryptonyms, pseudonyms,
and identity designators in cables to the specific cases set
forth in Paragraph 1 of was not in-
tended to mean that cryptonyms must be used in all those cases.
On the contrary, the use of cryptonyms for other than agent
or project references is neither necessary nor desirable in
cable traffic where ordinary cryptographic security is suffi-
cient to protect the security of the information.
3. Cryptonyms should be used in cable traffic only
when the correct name of the subject should be concealed from
the subject himself should the message fall into his hands;
for example, if the message reads "The Department of Under-
statement has failed miserably" or "Jonathan Jai/I:maker is
suspected of mendacity." No cryptonym should be used if the
message reads "The Department of Understatement did a magnifi-
cent job" or "Jonathan JaWbraker is veracity personified."
4. In dispatch traffic as well, cryptonyms should be
used only when necessary as, for example, when the organization
or person referred to is more sensitive than the remainder of
the dispatch and when the use of the cryptonym will success-
fully disguise the moaning and the subject. It should be re-
membered that nothing is gained by the mere use of a cryptonym
when the correct name of the subject can be easily deduced
from a reading of the context.
FOR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Chief, Administration
Distribution No. 2
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
lk
Chief, ADMIN.
Chief, RI
ET
'1r
Need for CIA Regulation Concerning
Cryptic References
15 May 1952
1. Due to the current increasing demands for names to be used
as aliases and pseudonyms throughout the Agency there is an urgent
need for control.
2. It is suggested that the Management Staff be asked to conduct
a survey that would result in a CIA Regulation setting Agency Policy
regarding the security, procurement, authority, and centralized issu-
ance of aliases and pseudonyms.
Such a regulation could be to this problem as CIA Regulation
3. This problem has been brought to a focus by the validation
of OPC Bulleti dated 12 May 1952 (copy attached), which was
not coordinated with RI OSO.
Enclosure- 1
OPC Bulletin
12 May 1952
SKR
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
 Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
 Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)(1)M
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
41M1k
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)
(b)
i.
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
1
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)(1)111
(b)(3)
 Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238
(b)(1
(b)(3
Approved for Release: 2019/12/02 CO2259238