Classified information is a categorization applied to
information that a government claims is
sensitive information. Access is restricted by
law or
regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal
security clearance is often required to handle classified documents
or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory
background investigation. There are typically several levels (classes)
of sensitivity, with differing clearance requirements. This sort of
hierarchical system of
secrecy
is used by virtually every
national
government. The act of assigning the level of sensitivity to data is
called data classification. Although the root
sense of the word "classified" is simply synonymous with "categorized",
it has developed a sense synonymous with "censored"
in the context of classified information.
A distinction could be made between formal security classification
and privacy markings such as "Commercial in confidence".
Some
corporations and non-government organizations also assign sensitive
information to multiple levels of protection, either from a desire to
protect
trade secrets, or because of laws and regulations governing various
matters such as
personal privacy, sealed legal proceedings and the timing of
financial information releases.
Government
classification
The purpose of classification is to protect information from being
used to damage or endanger
national security. Classification formalises what constitutes a
"state secret" and accords different levels of protection based on the
expected damage the information might cause in the wrong hands.
However, classified information is frequently ""leaked" to reporters
by officials for political purposes. Several US presidents have leaked
sensitive information to get their point across to the public.[2][3]
Classification
levels
Although the classification systems vary from country to country,
most have levels corresponding to the following British definitions
(from the highest level to lowest)
Top Secret (TS)
The highest level of classification of material on a national level.
Such material would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to
national security if made publicly available.
Secret
“It is desired that no document be released which
refers to
experiments with humans and might have adverse effect on
public opinion or result in legal suits. Documents covering
such work field should be
classified `secret’.”
April 17, 1947 Atomic Energy Commission memo from Colonel O.G.
Haywood, Jr. to Dr. Fidler at the Oak Ridge Laboratory in
Tennessee
[4]
Such material would cause "serious damage" to national security if it
were publicly available.
Confidential
Such material would cause "damage" or be "prejudicial" to national
security if publicly available.
Restricted
Such material would cause "undesirable effects" if publicly
available. Some countries do not have such a classification.
Unclassified
Technically not a classification level, but is used for government
documents that do not have a classification listed above. Such documents
can sometimes be viewed by those without security clearance.
There are a plethora of pseudo-classifications under this category.
Please see the articles on
Sensitive but unclassified and
Controlled Unclassified Information for more information. Some
government prosecutors have retro-actively changed unclassified
information into classified information after charging someone with a
crime; see the
Thomas Andrews Drake case for example.
Clearance
Depending on the level of classification there are different rules
controlling the level of clearance needed to view such information, and
how it must be stored, transmitted, and destroyed. Additionally, access
is restricted on a "need
to know" basis. Simply possessing a clearance does not automatically
authorize the individual to view all material classified at that level
or below that level. The individual must present a legitimate "need to
know" in addition to the proper level of clearance.
Compartmented information
In addition to the general risk-based classification levels above,
often there are additional constraints on access, such as (in the U.S.)
Special Intelligence (SI), which protects intelligence sources and
methods, No Foreign dissemination (NOFORN), which restricts
dissemination to U.S. nationals, and Originator Controlled dissemination
(ORCON), which ensures that the originator can track possessors of the
information. Documents in some compartments are marked with specific
"code words" in addition to the classification level.
Nuclear
information
Government information about
nuclear weapons such as nuclear warheads often has an additional
marking to show it contains such information.
Sharing classified information between countries
When a government agency or group shares information between an
agency or group of other country’s government they will generally employ
a special classification scheme that both parties have previously agreed
to honour.
For example the marking ATOMAL, is applied to U.S. RESTRICTED DATA or
FORMERLY RESTRICTED DATA and United Kingdom ATOMIC information that has
been released to NATO. ATOMAL information is marked COSMIC TOP SECRET
ATOMAL (CTSA), NATO SECRET ATOMAL (NSAT), or NATO CONFIDENTIAL ATOMAL
(NCA).
In cases where a country wishes to share classified information
bilaterally (or multilaterally) with a country that has a sharing
agreement, the information is with the countries it can be shared with.
Those countries would have to maintain the classification of the
document at the level originally classified (TOP-SECRET, SECRET, etc.)
with the appropriate caveat (USNZ, AUSGE, CANUK, etc.).
NATO
classifications
For example, sensitive information shared amongst
NATO allies
has four levels of security classification; from most to least
classified:
- COSMIC TOP SECRET (CTS),
- NATO SECRET (NS),
- NATO CONFIDENTIAL (NC), and
- NATO RESTRICTED (NR).
A special case exists with regard to NATO UNCLASSIFIED (NU)
information. Documents with this marking are NATO property (copyright)
and must not be made public without NATO permission. In general
documents with this classification aren't cleared for
internet-transmission either, unless clearly marked with RELEASABLE FOR
INTERNET TRANSMISSION. Documents that can be made public, however,
should be clearly marked with NON SENSITIVE INFORMATION RELEASABLE TO
THE PUBLIC.
In addition to the above classification levels NATO operates with
- COSMIC TOP SECRET - A
This level is given to people who need to have access to the joined
Atomic program of NATO. This level is never given permanently to anyone,
regardless of jobtitle - e.g. President of the U.S.A. etc. It is only
given for short periods of time, when needed.
International organisations
-
European Commission, has 5 levels, EU TOP SECRET, EU SECRET, EU
CONFIDENTIAL, EU RESTRICTED, and EU COUNCIL / COMMISSION.[5]
(Note that usually the French term is used)
-
OCCAR, a European defence organisation, has three levels of
classification: OCCAR SECRET, OCCAR CONFIDENTIAL, OCCAR RESTRICTED.[6]
By country
Most countries employ some sort of classification system for certain
government information. For example, in
Canada,
information that the U.S. would classify SBU (Sensitive but
Unclassified) is called "protected" and further subcategorised into
levels A, B, and C.
Australia
On 19 July 2011, the National Security (NS) classification marking
scheme and the Non-National Security (NNS) classification marking scheme
in
Australia was unified into one structure.
The Australian Government Security Classification system now
comprises TOP SECRET, SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL and PROTECTED. A new
dissemination limiting markers (DLMs) scheme was also introduced for
information where disclosure may be limited or prohibited by
legislation, or where it may otherwise require special handling. The DLM
marking scheme comprises For Official Use Only (FOUO), Sensitive,
Sensitive: Personal, Sensitive: Legal, and Sensitive Cabinet.
[7]
Documents marked Sensitive Cabinet, relating to discussions in
Federal Cabinet, are treated as PROTECTED at minimum due to its higher
sensitivity.
Background checks for access to TOP SECRET material are carried out
at either of two levels: at TOP SECRET NEGATIVE VETTING (TSNV), or at
the more stringent and expensive TOP SECRET POSITIVE VETTING (TSPV)
level, depending on the extent of required access to TOP SECRET material
and on the potential damage to national security should such material be
disclosed to unauthorised parties. Most background checks for access to
TOP SECRET material are carried out at the TOP SECRET NEGATIVE VETTING
level.
Brazil
In
Brazil, a top secret (Ultra-secreto) government-issued
document may be classified for a period of 25 years, which may be
extended up to another 25 years. Thus, no document remains classified
for more than 50 years. This is mandated by the 2011 Information Access
Law (Lei de Acesso à Informação), a change from the previous
rule, under which documents could have their classification time length
renewed indefinitely, effectively shuttering state secrets from the
public. The new law applies retroactively to existing documents.
Canada
Background
and hierarchy
There are 2 main type of sensitive information designation used by
the Government of Canada: Classified and Designated. The
access and protection of both types of information is governed by the
Security of Information Act, effective December 24, 2001,
replacing the Official Secrets Act 1981.[8]
To access the information, a person must have the appropriate level of
clearance and a
need to know.
In addition, the caveat "For Canadian Eyes Only" may be used to
restrict Classified or Designated information to only Canadian citizens
with the appropriate level of clearance and need to know.
[9]
Special operational information
SOI is not a classification of data per se. It is defined
under the
Security of Information Act, and unauthorised release of such
information constitutes a higher breach of trust, with penalty of life
imprisonment.
SOIs include:
- military operations in respect of a potential, imminent or
present armed conflict
- the identity of confidential source of information, intelligence
or assistance to the Government of Canada
- tools used for information gathering or intelligence
- the object of a covert investigation, or a covert collection of
information or intelligence
- the identity of any person who is under covert surveillance
- encryption and cryptographic systems
- information or intelligence to, or received from, a foreign
entity or terrorist group
Classified
information
Classified information can be designated Top Secret, Secret
or Confidential. These classifications are only used on matters
of national interest.
- Top Secret: This applies when compromise might reasonably cause
exceptionally grave injury to the national interest. The possible
impact must be great, immediate and irreparable.
- Secret: This applies when compromise might reasonably cause
serious injury to the national interest.
- Confidential: When disclosure might reasonably cause injury to
the national interest.
Designated
information
Designated information is not classified. Designated information
pertains to any sensitive information that does not relate to national
security and cannot be disclosed under the access and privacy
legislation because of the possible injury to particular public or
private interests.[10][11]
- Protected C (Extremely Sensitive designated information): is
used to protect extremely sensitive information, which if
compromised, could reasonably be expected to cause extremely grave
injury outside the national interest. Examples could include
bankruptcy, identities of informants in criminal investigations,
etc.
- Protected B (Particularly Sensitive designated information): is
used to protect information that could cause severe injury or damage
to the people or group involved if it was released. Examples include
medical records, annual personnel performance reviews, etc.
- Protected A (Low-Sensitive designated information): is applied
to low sensitivity information that should not be disclosed to the
public without authorisation and could reasonably be expected to
cause injury or embarrassment outside the national interest. Example
of Protected A information could include employee number, pay
deposit banking information, etc.
Federal Cabinet (Queen's
Privy Council for Canada) papers are either designated (i.e.
overhead slides prepared to make presentations to Cabinet) or classified
(draft legislations, certain memos).[12]
People's
Republic of China
A building in
Wuhan housing provincial offices for dealing with
foreign countries etc. The red slogan says, "Protection of
national secrets is a duty of every citizen"
The
Criminal Law of the
People's Republic of China (which is not operative in the
Special Administrative Regions of
Hong
Kong and
Macao) makes it a crime to release a state secret. Regulation and
enforcement is carried out by the
National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets.
Under the 1989 "Law on Guarding State Secrets,"[13]
state secrets are defined as those that concern:
- Major policy decisions on state affairs;
- The building of national defence and in the activities of the
armed forces;
- Diplomatic activities and in activities related to foreign
countries and those to be maintained as commitments to foreign
countries;
- National economic and social development;
- Science and technology;
- Activities for preserving state security and the investigation
of criminal offences; and
- Any other matters classified as "state secrets" by the national
State Secrets Bureau.[14]
Secrets can be classified into one of three categories:
- Top secret (绝密): Defined as "vital state secrets whose
disclosure would cause extremely serious harm to state security and
national interests";
- Highly secret (机密): Defined as "important state secrets whose
disclosure would cause serious harm to state security and national
interests"; and
- Secret (秘密): Defined as "ordinary state secrets whose disclosure
would cause harm to state security and national interests".[14]
France
In France, classified information defined by article 413-9 of the
Penal Code.[15]
The three levels of military classification are
- Confidentiel Défense (Confidential Defence): Information
deemed potentially harmful to national defence, or that could lead
to uncovering an information classified at a higher level of
security.
- Secret Défense (Secret Defence): Information deemed very
harmful to national defence. Such information cannot be reproduced
without authorisation from the emitting authority, except in
exceptional emergencies.
- Très Secret Défense (Very Secret Defence): Information
deemed extremely harmful to national defence, and relative to
governmental priorities in national defence. No service or
organisation can elaborate, process, stock, transfer, display or
destroy information or protected supports classified at this level
without authorisation from the Prime Minister or the national
secretary for National Defence. Partial or exhaustive reproduction
is strictly forbidden.
Less sensitive information is "protected". The levels are
- Non Protégé (unprotected)
- Diffusion restreinte administrateur ("administrative
restricted information")
- Diffusion restreinte ("restricted information")
- Confidentiel personnels Sous-Officiers ("Confidential
non-commissioned officers")
- Confidentiel personnels Officiers ("Confidential
officers")
A further mention, "spécial France" (reserved France)
restricts the document to French citizens (in its entirety or by
extracts). This is not a classification level.
Declassification of documents can be done by the Commission
consultative du secret de la défense nationale (CCSDN), an
independent authority. Transfer of classified information is done with
double envelopes, the outer layer being plastified and numbered, and the
inner in strong paper. Reception of the document involves examination of
the physical integrity of the container and registration of the
document. In foreign countries, the document must be transferred through
specialised military mail or
diplomatic bag. Transport is done by an authorised convoyer or
habilitated person for mail under 20 kg. The letter must bear a seal
mentioning "PAR VALISE ACCOMPAGNEE-SACOCHE". Once a year,
ministers have an inventory of classified information and supports by
competent authorities.
Once their usage period is expired, documents are transferred to
archives, where they are either destroyed (by incineration, crushing or
electrical overtension), or stored.
In case of unauthorized release of classified information, competent
authorities are the
Ministry of Interior, the Haut fonctionnaire de défense et de
sécurité ("high civil servant for defence and security") of the
relevant ministry, and the General secretary for National Defence.
Violation of such secrets is an offence punishable with 7 years of
imprisonment and a 100 000 Euro fine; if the offence is committed by
imprudence or negligence, the penalties are 3 years of imprisonment and
a 45 000 Euro fine.
Hong Kong
The
Security Bureau is responsible for developing policies in regards to
the protection and handling of confidential government information. In
general, the system used in Hong Kong is very similar to the UK system,
developed from the
Colonial Hong Kong era.
Four classifications exists in Hong Kong, from highest to lowest in
sensitivity:[16]
- Top Secret (高度機密)
- Secret (機密)
- Confidential (保密)
- Temporary Confidential (臨時保密)
- Restricted (限閱文件/內部文件)
- Restricted (staff) (限閱文件(人事))
- Restricted (tender) (限閱文件 (投標))
- Restricted (administration) (限閱文件 (行政))
Restricted documents are not classified per se, but only those
who have a need to know will have access to such information, in
accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.[17]
New Zealand
New Zealand uses the Restricted classification, which is lower than
Confidential. People may be given access to Restricted information on
the strength of an authorisation by their
Head of Department, without being subjected to the background
vetting
associated with Confidential, Secret and Top Secret clearances. New
Zealand's security classifications and the national-harm requirements
associated with their use are roughly similar to those of the
United States.
In addition to national security classifications there are two
additional security classifications, In Confidence and Sensitive, which
are used to protect information of a policy and privacy nature. There
are also a number of information markings used within ministries and
departments of the government, to indicate, for example, that
information should not be released outside the originating ministry.
Because of strict privacy requirements around personal information,
personnel files are controlled in all parts of the public and private
sectors. Information relating to the security vetting of an individual
is usually classified at the In Confidence level.
Russian Federation
In the
Russian Federation, a state secret (Государственная тайна) is
information protected by the state on its military, foreign policy,
economic, intelligence, counterintelligence, operational and
investigative and other activities, dissemination of which could harm
state security.
Sweden
The Swedish classification has been updated due to increased NATO/PfP
cooperation. All classified defence documents will now have both a
Swedish classification (Kvalificerat Hemlig or Hemlig),
and an English classification (Top Secret, Secret, Confidential, or
Restricted).[citation
needed]
United Kingdom
The
United Kingdom currently uses five levels of classification—from
lowest to highest, they are: PROTECT, RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET
and TOP SECRET (formerly MOST SECRET). Those working with such material
should have the relevant
security clearance and often are required to sign to confirm their
understanding and acceptance of the
Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989, although the Act applies in the
same way regardless of signature. PROTECT is not in itself a security
protective marking level (such as RESTRICTED or greater), but is used to
indicate information which should not be disclosed because, for
instance, the document contains tax, or national insurance or other
personal information.
Government documents without a classification may be marked as
UNCLASSIFIED or NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED.[18]
United States
The U.S. classification system is currently established under
Executive Order 13292 and has three levels of
classification—Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. The U.S. had a
Restricted level during
World War II but no longer does. U.S. regulations state that
information received from other countries at the Restricted level should
be handled as Confidential. A variety of markings are used for material
that is not classified, but whose distribution is limited
administratively or by other laws, e.g.,
For Official Use Only (FOUO), or
Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU). The Atomic Energy Act of 1954
provides for the protection of information related to the design of
nuclear weapons. The term "Restricted Data" is used to denote certain
nuclear technology. Information about the storage, use or handling of
nuclear material or weapons is marked "Formerly Restricted Data". These
designations are used in addition to level markings (Confidential,
Secret and Top Secret). Information protected by the Atomic Energy Act
is protected by law and information classified under the Executive Order
is protected by Executive privilege.
Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries
(State) |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Albania |
Teper Sekret |
Sekret |
Konfidencial |
I Kufizuar |
Argentina |
Estrictamente Secreto y Confidencial |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Australia |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Protected |
Austria |
Streng Geheim |
Geheim |
Vertraulich |
Eingeschränkt |
Belgium (Dutch) |
Zeer Geheim |
Geheim |
Vertrouwelijk |
Beperkte Verspreiding |
Belgium (French) |
Très Secret |
Secret |
Confidentiel |
Diffusion restreinte |
Bolivia |
Supersecreto
or Muy Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Strogo povjerljivo |
Tajno |
Konfidencialno |
Restiktirano |
Brazil |
Ultra Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Bulgaria |
Строго секретно |
Секретно |
Поверително |
За служебно ползване |
Cambodia |
Sam Ngat Bamphot |
Sam Ngat Roeung |
Art Kambang |
Ham Kom Psay |
Canada |
Top Secret/Très secret |
Secret/Secret |
Confidential/Confidentiel |
Protected A, B or C / Protégé A, B ou C |
Chile |
Secreto |
Secreto |
Reservado |
Reservado |
China, People's Republic of |
Juémì (绝密) |
Jīmì (机密) |
Mìmì (秘密) |
Nèibù (内部) |
China, Republic of |
"Absolutely" Secret (絕對機密) |
"Extremely" Secret (極機密) |
Secret (機密) |
no direct equivalent |
Colombia |
Ultrasecreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reserva del sumario |
Costa Rica |
Alto Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
|
Croatia |
Vrlo tajno |
Tajno |
Povjerljivo |
Ograničeno |
Czech Republic |
Přísně tajné |
Tajné |
Důvěrné |
Vyhrazené |
Denmark |
Yderst Hemmeligt |
Hemmeligt |
Fortroligt |
Til Tjenestebrug
Foreign Service:
Fortroligt
(thin Black border) |
Ecuador |
Secretisimo |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Egypt |
Sirriy lil-Ġāyah
سري للغاية |
Sirriy Ǧiddan
سري جداً |
Khāṣ
خاص |
Maḥzūr
محظور |
El Salvador |
Ultra Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Estonia |
Täiesti salajane |
Salajane |
Konfidentsiaalne |
Piiratud |
Ethiopia |
Yemiaz Birtou Mistir |
Mistir |
Kilkil |
|
European Union (EU) |
TRES SECRET UE / EU TOP SECRET |
SECRET UE / EU SECRET |
CONFIDENTIEL UE / EU CONFIDENTIAL |
RESTREINT UE / EU RESTRICTED |
European Union (Western) (WEU) |
FOCAL TOP SECRET |
WEU SECRET |
WEU CONFIDENTIAL |
WEU RESTRICTED |
Euratom |
EURA TOP SECRET |
EURA SECRET |
EURA CONFIDENTIAL |
EURA RESTRICTED |
Finland |
Erittäin salainen (TLL I) |
Salainen (TLL II) |
Luottamuksellinen (TLL III) |
Viranomaiskäyttö (TLL IV) |
France |
Très secret défense |
Secret défense |
Confidentiel défense |
Diffusion restreinte |
Germany |
Streng Geheim |
Geheim |
VS-Vertraulich |
VS-Nur für den Dienstgebrauch |
Greece |
Άκρως Απόρρητον |
Απόρρητον |
Εμπιστευτικόν |
Περιορισμένης
Χρήσης |
Guatemala |
Alto Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Haiti |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Reserve |
Honduras |
Super Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Hong Kong |
Top Secret, 高度機密 |
Secret, 機密 |
Confidential, 保密 |
Restricted, 內部文件/限閱文件 |
Hungary |
Szigorúan Titkos |
Titkos |
Bizalmas |
Korlátozott Terjesztésű |
India (Hindi) |
परम गुप्त (Param Gupt) |
गुप्त (Gupt) |
गोपनीय (Gopniya) |
प्रतिबंधित/सीमित (Pratibandhit/seemit) |
India (English) |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Indonesia |
Sangat Rahasia |
Rahasia |
Rahasia Dinas |
Terbatas |
Iran |
Fararaz فَراراز |
Raz راز |
Sar-be-moher سـَر به مـُهر |
Sarbaste سَربسته |
Iraq |
Sirriy lil-Ġāyah
سري للغاية |
Sirriy
سري |
Khāṣ
خاص |
Maḥdūd
محدود |
Iceland |
Algert Leyndarmál |
Leyndarmál |
Trúnaðarmál |
Þjónustuskjal |
Ireland (Irish
language) |
An-sicreideach |
Sicreideach |
Runda |
Srianta |
Israel |
Sodi Beyoter
סודי ביותר |
Sodi
סודי |
Shamur
שמור |
Mugbal
מוגבל |
Italy |
Segretissimo |
Segreto |
Riservatissimo |
Riservato |
Japan |
Kimitsu, 機密 |
Gokuhi, 極秘 |
Hi, 秘 |
Toriatsukaichuui, 取り扱い注意 |
Jordan |
Maktūm Ǧiddan
مكتوم جداً |
Maktūm
مكتوم |
Sirriy
سري |
Maḥdūd
محدود |
Korea, South |
I(Il)-Kup Bi Mil, 1급비밀 |
II(I)-Kup Bi Mil, 2급비밀 |
III(Sam)-Kup Bi Mil, 3급비밀 |
Dae Woi Bi, 대외비 |
Korea, North |
Unknown, 익명의 |
Unknown, 익명의 |
Unknown, 익명의 |
Unknown, 익명의 |
Laos |
Lup Sood Gnod |
Kuam Lup |
Kuam Lap |
Chum Kut Kon Arn |
Latvia |
Sevišķi slepeni |
Slepeni |
Konfidenciāli |
Dienesta vajadzībām |
Lebanon |
Tres Secret |
Secret |
Confidentiel |
|
Lithuania |
Visiškai Slaptai |
Slaptai |
Konfidencialiai |
Riboto Naudojimo |
Malaysia |
Rahsia Besar |
Rahsia |
Sulit |
Terhad |
Mexico |
Ultra Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Restringido |
Montenegro |
Strogo Tajno |
Tajno |
Povjerljivo |
Interno |
Netherlands[19] |
STG. Zeer Geheim |
STG. Geheim |
STG. Confidentieel |
Departementaal Vertrouwelijk |
New Zealand |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Nicaragua |
Alto Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Norway |
STRENGT HEMMELIG |
HEMMELIG |
KONFIDENSIELT |
BEGRENSET |
Pakistan (Urdu) |
Intahai Khufia |
Khufia |
Sigh-e-Raz |
Barai Mahdud Taqsim |
Pakistan (English) |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Paraguay |
Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Peru |
Estrictamente Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Philippines |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Poland |
Ściśle tajne |
Tajne |
Poufne |
Zastrzeżone |
Portugal |
Ultra Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Romania |
Strict Secret de Importanţă Deosebită |
Strict Secret |
Secret |
Secret de serviciu |
Russia |
Особой важности
(вариант: Совершенно Секретно (Sovershenno Sekretno)) |
Совершенно секретно
(вариант: Секретно (Sekretno)) |
Секретно
(вариант: Не подлежит оглашению
(Конфиденциально) (Ne podlezhit oglasheniyu
(Konfidentsial'no)) |
Для Служебного Пользования (ДСП)
(Dlya Sluzhebnogo Pol'zovaniya) |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Top Secret |
Saudi Very Secret |
Saudi Secret |
Saudi Restricted |
Serbia |
Latin: Državna tajna
Cyrillic: Државна тајна |
Latin: Strogo poverljivo
Cyrillic: Строго поверљиво |
Latin: Poverljivo
Cyrillic: Поверљивo |
Latin: Interno
Cyrillic: Интерно |
Singapore |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
Slovak Republic |
Prísne tajné |
Tajné |
Dôverné |
Vyhradené |
Slovenia |
Strogo tajno |
Tajno |
Zaupno |
Interno |
Spain |
Secreto |
Reservado |
Confidencial |
Difusión Limitada |
Sweden |
Kvalificerat Hemlig (KH); Hemlig/Top Secret (H/TS) |
Hemlig (H); Hemlig/Secret H/S) |
Hemlig/Confidential (H/C) |
Hemlig/Restricted (H/R) |
Switzerland |
|
Geheim / Secret |
Vertraulich / Confidentiel |
Dienstlich / Interne au service |
Tanzania (Swahili) |
SIRI KUU |
SIRI |
STIRI |
IMEZUILIWA |
Thailand |
Lap thi sut (ลับที่สุด) |
Lap mak (ลับมาก) |
Lap (ลับ) |
Pok pit (ปกปิด) |
Turkey |
Çok Gizli |
Gizli |
Özel |
Hizmete Özel |
South Africa (English) |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
Restricted |
South Africa (Afrikaans) |
Uiters Geheim |
Geheim |
Vertroulik |
Beperk |
Ukraine |
Особливої важливості |
Цілком таємно |
Таємно |
Для службового користування |
United Kingdom |
TOP SECRET |
SECRET |
CONFIDENTIAL |
RESTRICTED |
United States |
Top Secret |
Secret |
Confidential |
For Official Use Only |
Uruguay |
Ultra Secreto |
Secreto |
Confidencial |
Reservado |
Vietnam |
Tuyệt Mật |
Tối Mật |
Mật |
Phổ Biến Hạn Chế |
Original source:
NISPOM Appendix B[20]
¹ In addition, Finland uses label Salassa pidettävä, "to be kept
secret" for information that is not classified but must not be revealed
on some other basis than national security. (E.g. privacy, trade secrets
etc.)
Corporate
classification
Private
corporations often require written
confidentiality agreements and conduct
background checks on candidates for sensitive positions.[21]
In the U.S. the
Employee Polygraph Protection Act prohibits private employers from
requiring lie detector tests, but there are a few exceptions. Policies
dictating methods for marking and safeguarding company-sensitive
information (e.g. "IBM Confidential") are common and some companies have
more than one level. Such information is protected under
trade secret laws. New product development teams are often
sequestered and forbidden to share information about their efforts with
un-cleared fellow employees, the original
Apple Macintosh project being a famous example. Other activities,
such as
mergers and
financial report preparation generally involve similar restrictions.
However, corporate security generally lacks the elaborate hierarchical
clearance and sensitivity structures and the harsh criminal sanctions
that give government classification systems their particular tone.
Traffic Light
Protocol
The
Traffic Light Protocol[22][23]
was developed by the G8 countries to enable the sharing of sensitive
information between government agencies and corporations. This protocol
has now been accepted as a model for trusted information exchange by
over 30 other countries. The protocol provides for four "information
sharing levels" for the handling of sensitive information.