Declassification is the process of ceasing a protective classification, often under the principle of freedom of information. Procedures for declassification vary by country. Papers may be withheld without being classified as secret, and eventually made available.
Scribbled out "SECRET" on the 1945 written and 1961 declassified Szilárd petition
Classified information has been governed by various Official Secrets Acts, the latest being the Official Secrets Act 1989. Until 1989 requested information was routinely kept secret invoking the public interest defence; this was largely removed by the 1989 Act. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 largely requires information to be disclosed unless there are good reasons for secrecy.
Confidential government papers such as the yearly cabinet papers used routinely to be withheld formally, although not necessarily classified as secret, for 30 years under the thirty year rule, and released usually on a New Year's Day; freedom of information legislation has relaxed this rigid approach.
Executive Order 13526 establishes the mechanisms for most declassifications, within the laws passed by Congress.[1] The originating agency assigns a declassification date, by default 25 years. After 25 years, declassification review is automatic with nine narrow exceptions that allow information to remain as classified. At 50 years, there are two exceptions, and classifications beyond 75 years require special permission.[2] Because of changes in policy and circumstances, agencies are expected to actively review documents that have been classified for fewer than 25 years. They must also respond to Mandatory Declassification Review and Freedom of Information Act requests. The National Archives and Records Administration houses the National Declassification Center to coordinate reviews and Information Security Oversight Office to promulgate rules and enforce quality measures across all agencies. NARA reviews documents on behalf of defunct agencies and permanently stores declassified documents for public inspection. The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel has representatives from several agencies.
^"Declassification". www.justice.gov. September 9, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
^"Declassification Frequently Asked Questions". www.justice.gov. September 9, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
December 20, 2023
declassification, declassified, redirects, here, series, declassified, 2004, series, declassified, 2016, series, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, m. Declassified redirects here For the TV series see Declassified 2004 TV series and Declassified 2016 TV series This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Declassification news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Declassification is the process of ceasing a protective classification often under the principle of freedom of information Procedures for declassification vary by country Papers may be withheld without being classified as secret and eventually made available Scribbled out SECRET on the 1945 written and 1961 declassified Szilard petitionContents 1 United Kingdom 2 United States 3 See also 4 ReferencesUnited Kingdom editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2010 See also Freedom of information in the United Kingdom Classified information has been governed by various Official Secrets Acts the latest being the Official Secrets Act 1989 Until 1989 requested information was routinely kept secret invoking the public interest defence this was largely removed by the 1989 Act The Freedom of Information Act 2000 largely requires information to be disclosed unless there are good reasons for secrecy Confidential government papers such as the yearly cabinet papers used routinely to be withheld formally although not necessarily classified as secret for 30 years under the thirty year rule and released usually on a New Year s Day freedom of information legislation has relaxed this rigid approach United States editMain article Classified information in the United States Declassification Executive Order 13526 establishes the mechanisms for most declassifications within the laws passed by Congress 1 The originating agency assigns a declassification date by default 25 years After 25 years declassification review is automatic with nine narrow exceptions that allow information to remain as classified At 50 years there are two exceptions and classifications beyond 75 years require special permission 2 Because of changes in policy and circumstances agencies are expected to actively review documents that have been classified for fewer than 25 years They must also respond to Mandatory Declassification Review and Freedom of Information Act requests The National Archives and Records Administration houses the National Declassification Center to coordinate reviews and Information Security Oversight Office to promulgate rules and enforce quality measures across all agencies NARA reviews documents on behalf of defunct agencies and permanently stores declassified documents for public inspection The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel has representatives from several agencies See also editFreedom of information Freedom of information legislation United States v ReynoldsReferences edit Declassification www justice gov September 9 2014 Retrieved May 28 2022 Declassification Frequently Asked Questions www justice gov September 9 2014 Retrieved May 28 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Declassification amp oldid 1182600769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
