CLASSIFICATION OF CIA INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01022R000100050003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 28, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: REGULATION

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SECURITY
CLASSIFICATION OF CIA INFORMATION
1. The President in his memorandum of 21 December 1970 to
the Heads of certain departments and agencies including the Dirictor
of Central Intelligence expressed concern over public disclosures,
and directed that immediate steps be taken to ensure that existing
regulations and procedures to safeguard classified information be
strengthened where necessary. He also referred to the statutory
responsibility of the DCI for the protection of intelligence sources
and methods. In addition, in accordance with another Presidential
instruction, a major effort has been underway among the several
government agencies over the past year to revise EO 10501,
"Safeguarding Official Information in the Interests of the Defense
of the United States," involving the whole classification structure.
To this end we have been looking at our classification procedures
with the view of determining whether CIA information is properly
classified or for that matter over classifiedIAll personnel are
urged to comply with the principles stated in this Notice.
2. The classification process is one which requires thought
The use of a
and consideration and must not be taken lightly .
classification is not authorized to withhold otherwise releasable.
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information on the grounds that its. release might be embarrassing
or might tend to reveal administrative error or inefficiency. Clas-
sification of a document requires sound judgment on the part of the
individual in order to afford the degree of protection necessary to
safeguard it. Under the Freedom of Information Act, document~s
properly classified are not releasable to the public. Officials
authorized to classify must determine whether the information
involved falls within one of the following categories as defined in
STATINTL EO 10501 (also see
a. Top Secret Information:
Except as may be expressly provided by
statute, the use of the classification Top Secret
shall be authorized, by appropriate authority,
only for defense information or material which
requires the highest degree of protection. The
Top Secret classification shall be applied only to
that information or material the defense aspect
of which is paramount, and the unauthorized
disclosure of which could result inii exceptionally
grave damage to the Nation such as leading to a
definite break in diplomatic relations affecting the
defense of the United States, an armed attack
against the United States or its allies, a war, or
the compromise of military or defense plans, or
intelligence operations, or scientific or techno-
logical developments vital to the national defense.
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b. Secret Information:
Except as may be expressly provided by statute,
the use of the classification Secret shall be authorized,
by appropriate authority, only for defense information
or material, the unauthorized disclosure of which could
result in serious damage to the Nation, such as by
jeopardizing the international relations of the United
States, endangering the effectiveness of a program
or policy of vital importance to the national defense,
or compromising important military or defense plans,
scientific or technological developments important to
national defense, or information revealing important
intelligence operations.
c. Confidential Information:
Except as may be expressly provided by statute,
the use of the classification Confidential shall be
authorized, by appropriate authority, only for
defense information or material the unauthorized
disclosure of which could be prejudicial to the
defense interests of the nation.
3. To properly classify a document, serious consideration must
be given to the provisions of the above-mentioned categories by the
classifying official, keeping in mind the need for the protection of
intelligence sources and methods. By the same token overclassifi-
cation undermines the integrity and effectiveness of the system and at
times causes ridicule when the information becomes publicly known
or passes from one government agency to another.
STATINTL 4. Headquarters prescribes certain internal
Agency control markings which may be considered for use when the
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above classification categories do not apply. These markings are:
a. Administrative-Internal Use Only. This control
.iiia,r ung may oe usea for unciassitied, non
sensitive administrative information which
should not be disseminated outside of CIA.
b. For Official Use Only. This control may be
used whenever intelligence or intelligence
information does not warrant a defense
classification, but does require some dis-
semination limitation. Intelligence or
information bearing this marking may be
used for official purposes by foreign
governments which have been authorized
to receive it by the originating agency. It
may be disclosed to non-Government persons
and organizations only with permission of the
originating agency. This control marking is
used alone and never in conjunction with a
defense classification. Some reasons for
requiring such dissemination control are:
protection under copyright, libel, slander,
and communication laws; and protection for
moral, ethical, or legal reasons.
However, employees should know the distinct~i.on between defense
classification, which will cause information to be exempt under the
Freedom of Information Act, and the use of the above control markings,
STATINTL which by themselves will not (see
Certain categories of
records, primarily personnel, medical, and similar files, are
exempt from public release under this Act. Jse of one of the
markings should serve to prevent inadvertent
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5. In order to assist the classifying official, the followings
guidelines are offered:
a. Each document}-be classified on the basis
of information it contains or reveals, with full
consideration given to the DCI's responsibility
for the protection of intelligence sources and
methods.
b. Documents containing references to classified
material, which references do not reveal
classified information, shall not be classified.
c. Documents will not be classified solely on the
basis of their containing office symbols.
d. Documents received from other agencies or
foreign governments Lr same
classification or the lowest cor}parable
classification.
aidtv-i
e. Administrative material oftn
e overclas sified.
Formal notices as well as intra~-agency memoranda
often can be issued without classification or
dissemination control.
STATINTI.
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6. In order to ensure an effective classification program,
Deputy Directors and Operating Officials should periodically check
to determine whether documents originating within their components
are properly classified. Supervisors and assistant classification
control officers will continue to exercise their responsibilities in
STATINTL accordance with
7. This notice with the suggested guidelines is written for
the ready reference of all concerned.
FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE:
JOHN W. COFFEY
Deputy Director
for Support
DISTRIBUTION:
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