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Information generated by the federal government is subject to '''classification''' by executive order.
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'''Classified''' is a term for information that has potential to damage national security. '''Classified''' is a term for information that has potential to damage national security. Access to classified information is contingent on eligibility and a need-to-know. '''Standard Form 312''' ('''SF312''') is a nondisclosure agreement that must also be signed before access is granted.
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'''Unclassified''' is the inverse term. Unclassified information still needs to be cleared for public release and may be controlled as [[UnitedStates/InformationLaw/ControlledUnclassifiedInformation|CTI]]. If someone who does not meet those criteria accesses the information, there is an '''unauthorized disclosure''' ('''UD'''). If information is retroactively found to be misclassified, there may have been instances of inadvertent unauthorized disclosure. That is, adhering to best practices about classified information can still lead to unauthorized disclosures.

'''Unclassified''' is the inverse term. Unclassified information still needs to be cleared for public release and may be controlled as [[UnitedStates/InformationLaw/ControlledUnclassifiedInformation|CUI]].
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The difference lies in the "expected damage" that would result from disclosure. Top secret corresponds to "exceptionally grave damage".
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During World War 2, there was an additional rank for classified information below confidential: restricted.

Classified Information

Information generated by the federal government is subject to classification by executive order.

Contents

  1. Classified Information
    1. Definition
    2. Ranks

Definition

Classified is a term for information that has potential to damage national security. Access to classified information is contingent on eligibility and a need-to-know. Standard Form 312 (SF312) is a nondisclosure agreement that must also be signed before access is granted.

If someone who does not meet those criteria accesses the information, there is an unauthorized disclosure (UD). If information is retroactively found to be misclassified, there may have been instances of inadvertent unauthorized disclosure. That is, adhering to best practices about classified information can still lead to unauthorized disclosures.

Unclassified is the inverse term. Unclassified information still needs to be cleared for public release and may be controlled as CUI.

Ranks

Classified information is organized into ranks.

  1. Top Secret
  2. Secret
  3. Confidential

The difference lies in the "expected damage" that would result from disclosure. Top secret corresponds to "exceptionally grave damage".

There are additionally two ranks for unclassified information.

  1. Official or For Official Use Only
  2. Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU)

During World War 2, there was an additional rank for classified information below confidential: restricted.

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UnitedStates/InformationLaw/ClassifiedInformation (last edited 2025-09-03 14:08:18 by DominicRicottone)