Level of secrecy

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A4 page for confidential information, as defined by Citizenship and Senate in Hamburg , in a special use Photocopier be canceled automatically triple-cross.

With a degree of secrecy (also called secrecy level) classified information is classified according to its need for protection by an official body or at its request.

Each object ( document ) is assigned a degree of protection (protection class, protection class) according to its protection worthiness and endangerment. The individual protection classes form an order relationship , that is, they subdivide the objects into "layers" (vertical structure). Each subject (actor, user) is now also assigned a degree of protection according to the trust placed in him. A subject may only access an object if the degree of protection of the subject (the clearance of a person) is at least as high as the degree of protection of the object (e.g. the degree of secrecy of a document).

This type of access restriction is particularly common in the military and other government institutions, but is also used by many companies . In most cases there are four levels of secrecy.

Access control of this type is primarily used for secrecy , i.e. to maintain the confidentiality of information. In systems with high security requirements, the generation of new data is treated in a special way for this purpose: If a subject creates a new object, this automatically has the degree of protection of the subject. This prevents actors with a high level of access authorization from being able to (unintentionally) pass on information to a lower level of protection. However, this means that “highly authorized” people are increasingly required to reconsider their statements, unless they are made in an appropriately authorized group.

Federal Republic of Germany

Classified information (VS) are classified according to their need for protection by an official agency of the federal government or at their instigation into the following degrees of confidentiality .

  1. STRENG GEHEIM (abbreviated: Str. Geh. ), If unauthorized persons may endanger the existence or vital interests of the Federal Republic of Germany or one of its countries .
    Frequent marking: Red stamp imprint on documents or printing in the header and footer.
  2. SECRET ( Go. ), If unauthorized persons may endanger the security of the Federal Republic of Germany or one of its countries or cause serious damage to their interests.
    Frequent marking: Red stamp imprint on documents or printing in the header and footer.
  3. VS-VERTRAULICH ( VS -vert. ), If the knowledge by unauthorized persons could be detrimental to the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany or one of its countries.
    Frequent marking: Blue or black stamps on documents or printing in the header.
  4. VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE ( VS-NfD ), if unauthorized persons may be detrimental to the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany or one of its countries.
    Frequent marking: Blue or black stamps on documents or printing in the header.

The legal basis for the federal government is Section 4 (2) Security Review Act (SÜG) as well as the general administrative regulation on material security (classified information - VSA), which was issued on the basis of Section 35 (1) SÜG. The federal states have their own security clearance laws and classified information, but these are essentially the same as federal law .

The degrees of confidentiality STRENG GEHEIM , GEHEIM and VS-VERTRAULICH are also provided with the addition officially kept secret . If companies produce classified information on behalf of an authority or the state, the addition is kept secret at official instigation . The degrees of confidentiality are generally written in capital letters. VS-VERTRAULICH and VS-NUR DEN DIENSTGEBRAUCH are spelled with a single hyphen (quarter-quarter dash) without a space before or after this. The letter combination VS is never resolved into the word VERSCHLUSSSACHE . ( § 4 Abs. 2 SÜG) The official abbreviations for the federal area are defined in § 20 Abs. 4 classified information instruction.

In addition to the degree of secrecy, the group of people who may see the files can also be restricted by assigning a so-called protection word. The basis are the security regulations for telecommunications intelligence (SiBestFmA), which the Federal Chancellery (BKAmt), Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg) and Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) have issued on the basis of the Security Review Act. The publisher of the classified information assigns the protection word in addition to the degree of secrecy and communicates it to all persons who are allowed to have access to the classified information.

Depending on the classification, classified information must be stored in locked filing cabinets or safes . If they are transmitted electronically, they must be encrypted. In Germany, cryptosystems approved by the BSI are used for this. "VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE" is available to every employee of an authority as part of their official business . Persons who are to have access to classified information with a security level of "VS-VERTRAULICH" or "SECRET" are subjected to a security check beforehand . In the “extended security review with security investigations” for persons with access to classified information classified as “TOP SECRET”, “reference persons” are also interviewed, ie persons with whom the applicant regularly maintains close contact, and other security features are checked. In the division of the Federal Ministry of Defense , security checks are carried out by the Military Counter-Intelligence Service (MAD), in the rest of the public administration and the private sector by the Federal Office and the state authorities for the protection of the constitution .

Whoever "can" gain access to classified information from the level of confidentiality VS-CONFIDENTIAL will be allowed to do so , whoever "should" get access will be authorized. Anyone who only has access to classified material classified as VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE is obliged to conscientiously comply with the provisions of confidentiality.

German Democratic Republic

In the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the National People's Army (NVA) differentiated between state and service secrets. There were degrees of secrecy for state secrets:

  • Secret command matter (GKdoS)
  • Secret classified information (GVS)
  • Confidential classified information (VVS).

For official secrets, the degrees of secrecy were

  • For official use only (NfD)
  • Confidential official matter (VD)
  • Special official matter (BDS, only since about 1989).

Classify the classified information and order the duplication for "secret command matters" the deputy of the minister, the chief inspector of the NVA and the commanders with rank major general and equals, for "secret classified information" the commanders with rank colonel and equals and the directors of the state-owned enterprises in the Division of the Ministry of National Defense and for "Confidential Information" the heads of structural units with lieutenant colonels and equals. The authorized persons and their deputies were also allowed to order the lower degrees of confidentiality at the same time.

Were classified as

  • Secret matter of command: Information of the highest political, economic, military, scientific, technical or technological importance, the secrecy of which is decisive for securing the foundations of the GDR or the socialist community of states or the disclosure of which can endanger these foundations.
  • Secret classified information: political, economic, military, scientific, technical, technological etc. a. Information of national importance, the secrecy of which is used to a great extent by the GDR or the socialist community of states or enables a significant advantage or the disclosure of which poses serious dangers, damage, disturbances or other disadvantages for the domestic and foreign policy of the socialist state, the national economy, which Can bring about defense or internal security.
  • Confidential classified information: political, economic, military, scientific, technical, technological etc. a. Information with significance for social areas and processes or the socialist state, the secrecy of which enables an advantage or the disclosure of which can lead to dangers, damage, disturbances or other disadvantages for them.

Germany 1933–1945

Form Secret Command Item , Naval Intelligence Service

At the time of National Socialism , the basic requirements for secrecy in the military sector were laid down in the classified information regulation ( H.Dv. 99, M.Dv.Nr. 9, L.Dv.99 - of October 1, 1935 and August 1, 1943 ). The term classified information is defined as follows: "Classified information in the sense of this provision are writings and documents that require special security protection for the good of the Reich, in particular in the interests of national defense or for other official reasons."

military

The classified information in the military sector was divided into three degrees of confidentiality:

  1. "For official use only" (NfdD)
  2. "Secret" (go.)
  3. "Secret command matter" (Geh.KdoS., Also: "g. Kdos." And "GKdos.")

Authorities

  1. "Only for official use" (NfdD) or "Only for German authorities" (NfdB)
  2. "Confidential" (contract)
  3. "Secret" (go.)
  4. "Secret command matter" (Geh.KdoS.)
  5. "Geheime Reichssache" (Geh.RchS.)

The classified information regulation precisely regulated the identification, distribution, destruction and behavior in the event of loss.

Secret Reich business

Following the “Classified Information Order” of 1935, classified information and the degree of secrecy for the administration were formulated comprehensively: or disciplinary reasons must be limited to a certain group of people and must be kept under lock and key. "

  • "VS are› secret ‹(go.), If their content has to be given a higher level of protection against disclosure and betrayal," or
  • “› Geheime Reichssache ‹(Geh.RchS.), If they require the highest level of secrecy protection and therefore should only come to the knowledge of a very limited group of people who can be precisely identified. Geh.RchS. are under special security of safekeeping and transport. "

"Basic order of the Führer"

As Fuhrer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht , Adolf Hitler issued a “Basic Order” on January 11, 1940:

  1. Nobody: No agency, no officer may find out about a matter that is to be kept secret if they do not necessarily have to know about it for official reasons.
  2. No agency or officer may learn more about a matter to be kept secret than is absolutely necessary for the performance of their task.
  3. No agency or officer may find out about a matter to be kept secret or the part necessary for it earlier than is absolutely necessary for the performance of their task.
  4. The thoughtless passing on of commands, the confidentiality of which is of vital importance, according to any general distribution key is prohibited.

In addition to this, on June 12, 1942, Hitler ordered that secrecy should become a much greater part of the officers' general property, especially when preparing for major operations. This is to be ensured through regular, urgent instruction, constant monitoring and strict penalties for violations.

United States

Confidentiality Notice, USA

The state secrecy grades in the United States are:

  1. Top Secret (Top Secret)
  2. Secret (Secret)
  3. Confidential (Confidential)

Top secret is the highest level of secrecy known to the general public. It is used for information that will cause "extremely serious damage" to national security if itbecomesknown to the public. More than 850,000 people in the US have a clearance to access information of the highest confidentiality.

Unimportant or meaningless information can also be classified as top secret if the type of information obtained is to remain secret. This can apply, for example, to intercepted communication signals ( Signal Intelligence - SIGINT) or human sources ( Human Intelligence - HUMINT).

The secrecy level Secret is the second highest level of secrecy known to the general public. It is used to declare information whose publication would cause "serious damage" to national security.

The classification level Confidential is the lowest. It is defined as information that, when published, causes undefined damage to national security.

Only information that is extremely worthy of protection falls under the various degrees of confidentiality. This includes:

  • military plans, weapon systems or operations,
  • Information about foreign governments,
  • Intelligence activities (including covert operations ), information sources and methods or cryptology ,
  • United States foreign relations or activities, including confidential sources,
  • scientific, technological or economic issues related to national security ,
  • Government programs responsible for the safety of nuclear material or facilities
  • Information about weaknesses or capabilities of systems, facilities, infrastructures, projects, plans or security services in relation to national security
  • as well as the development, production and use of weapons of mass destruction .

The then President Barack Obama stipulated with his Executive Order 13526 - Classified National Security Information of December 29, 2009 in Section 1.7, among other things, that no information may be kept secret,

  1. to hide legal violations, inefficiency or administrative errors, or
  2. to avoid that people, organizations or authorities get “embarrassed”.
Example of an internal information sheet of the National Security Agency with the level of confidentiality TOP SECRET, the sub-category COMINT -GAMMA and the handling instructions ORCON // NOFORN.

In addition, there is always speculation that there are other degrees of secrecy that can be sorted via Top Secret ; most recently, for example, in the context of the global surveillance and espionage affair . However, these speculations are based on a misunderstanding: As a supplement to the classification using the above-mentioned degrees of confidentiality, each piece of information can also be provided with an access restriction within the framework of a so-called Special Access Program set up by the Director of National Intelligence . The currently valid restriction is known under the generic term Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and comprises several access control programs that function as a breakdown according to the type of information source. Examples of such access control programs are:

These programs are further subdivided with a mostly secret code word; The code words Very Restricted Knowledge (VRK), Exceptionally Controlled Information (ECI) and GAMMA are currently assigned to the Special Intelligence program . Information can thus be provided horizontally with different degrees of secrecy, but vertically it can be in the same area of ​​an access restriction. This becomes clear in the example on the right: The top secret security level is restricted by the sub-category COMINT and the code word GAMMA, a further sub-division of the COMINT category, to those who are authorized to access information from the corresponding areas and the corresponding level of confidentiality. This is supplemented by the handling instructions ORCON ( originator controls dissemination of information , dissemination only by the author) and NOFORN (English: not releasable to foreign nationals , no disclosure to foreign citizens).

NATO

NATO's degrees of secrecy are:

  1. COSMIC TOP SECRET (CTS), is treated like TOP SECRET in Germany
  2. NATO SECRET (NS), is treated like SECRET in Germany
  3. NATO CONFIDENTIAL (NC), is treated like VS-CONFIDENTIAL in Germany
  4. NATO RESTRICTED (NR), is treated like VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE in Germany

For international missions such as B. the use of German tornadoes in Afghanistan, the classification z. B. as NATO SECRET releasable to ISAF SECRET .

Non- classified NATO information is marked as NATO UNCLASSIFIED (NU). Information and documents with this designation are not public and may not be published without the consent of NATO. This restriction can be lifted with the addition RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC and / or RELEASABLE TO INTERNET .

Information or documents that are publicly available are marked with the addition NON SENSITIVE INFORMATION RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC .

Other states, supranational and intergovernmental organizations

The following table shows the degrees of confidentiality of other states, supranational and intergovernmental organizations. The structure is based on the German classification system, but direct transfer is not possible in all cases due to linguistic and cultural differences.

Country
TOP SECRET
SECRET
VS-CONFIDENTIAL
VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE
Egypt Sirri Lilghayeh SirriKhas Mehoud Jidden
Albania Tepër secret secretion Confidencial i kufizuar
Algeria TRÈS SECRET SECRET CONFIDENTIEL DIFFUSION REMAINING
Argentina SECRETO CONFIDENCIAL PÚBLICO
Ethiopia Yemiaz Birtou Mistir Mistir Kilkil  
Australia TOP SECRET SECRET PROTECTED RESTRICTED
Belgium ( Flemish ) ZEER SECRET SECRET VERTROUWELIJK
Belgium ( French ) TRÈS SECRET SECRET CONFIDENTIEL
Bolivia Supersecreto or Muy Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Bosnia and Herzegovina TAJNO POVJERLJIVO INTERNO
Brazil Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Bulgaria Строго секретно Секретно Поверително За служебно ползване
Chile Secreto Secreto Reservado Reservado
China 绝密 , Juémì 机密 , Jīmì 秘密 , Mìmì  
Costa Rica Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial  
Denmark YDERST HEMMELIGT INHIBITED CONTINUES TIL TJENESTEBRUG
German Democratic Republic (GDR) Secret command matter (GKdos) Secret classified information (GVS) Confidential classified information (VVS) Confidential official matter (VD)
Germany TOP SECRET SECRET VS-CONFIDENTIAL VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE
Ecuador Secretisimo Secreto Confidencial Reservado
El Salvador Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Estonia Täiesti salajane Salajane Confidentsiaalne Piiratud
Eurocorps EUROCOR TRÈS SECRET (ECTS) or
EUROCORPS TOP SECRET 		EUROCOR SECRET (ECS) or
EUROCORPS SECRET 		EUROCOR CONFIDENTIEL (ECC) or
EUROCORPS CONFIDENTIAL 		EUROCOR DIFFUSION RESTREINTE (ECDR) or
EUROCORPS RESTRICTED
European Union
Europol (for Europol with the addition Europol) 		TRES SECRET UE / EU TOP SECRET
(TS-UE / EU-TS) 		SECRET UE / EU SECRET
(S-UE / EU-S) 		CONFIDENTIEL UE / EU CONFIDENTIAL
(C-UE / EU-C) 		RESTREINT UE / EU RESTRICTED
(R-UE / EU-R)
European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) EURA TOP SECRET EURA SECRET EURA CONFIDENTIAL EURA FOR SERVICE USE ONLY
European Space Agency (ESA) ESA TOP SECRET ESA SECRET ESA CONFIDENTIAL ESA RESTRICTED
Finland ERITTÄIN SALAINEN or
YTTERST HEMLIG 		SALAINEN or
HEMLIG 		LUOTTAMUKSELLINEN or
CONFIDENTIAL 		KÄYTTÖ RAJOITETTU or
BEGRÄNSAD TILLGÅNG
France TRÈS SECRET DÉFENSE SECRET DÉFENSE CONFIDENTIEL DÉFENSE DIFFUSION REMAINING
Greece Άκρως Απόρρητον (AAΠ) Απόρρητον (AΠ) Εμπιστευτικόν (EM) Περιορισμένης Χρήσης (ΠX)
Great Britain Top secret Secret Official
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 , Gāodù jīmì Secret , 機密 , Jīmì Confidential , 保密 , Bǎomì Restricted , 內部 文件 , Nèibù wénjiàn
India Param Gupt Gupt Gopniya Pratibanhst / seemit
Indonesia Sangat Rahasia Rahasia Agak Rahasia Terbatas
Iraq Sirri Lil-ghayah Sirri Khass Mehdoud
Iran Bekoliserri Serri Kheil Mahramaneh Mahramaneh
Ireland Top secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Iceland ALGJÖRT LEYNDARMÁL LEYNDARMÁL TRÚNAÐARMÁL TAKMARKAÐUR AÐGANGUR
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 Toriatsukai chūi, 取 り 扱 い 注意
Jordan Maktum Jiddan Maktum Sirri Mahdud
Cambodia Sam Ngat Bamphot Sam Ngat Roeung Kind of Kambang Ham Kom Psay
Canada Top secret Secret Confidential  
Kazakhstan Совершенно секретно Секретно Для служебного пользования
Colombia Ultrasecreto Secreto Reservado Confidencial
Croatia Vrlo tajno Tajno Povjerljivo Ograničeno
Laos Lup Sood Gnod Kuam Lup Kuam Lap Chum Kut Kon Arn
Latvia Sevišķi slepeni Slepeni Confidenciāli Dienesta vajadzībām
Lebanon Tres Secret Secret Confidentiel  
Lithuania Visiškai slaptai Slaptai Confidencialiai Riboto naudojimo
Luxembourg Très Secret Lux Secret Lux Confidentiel Lux Residual lux
Mexico Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Restringido / Reservado
Malta L-Oghla Segretezza Top Secret Sigriet Secret Kunfidenzjali Confidential Ristrett Restricted
Montenegro TAJNO POVJERLJIVO INTERNO
New Zealand Top secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Nicaragua Alto Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Netherlands Stg. ZEER SECRET Stg. SECRET Stg. CONFIDENTIEEL Dep. VERTROUWELIJK
North Macedonia ДPЖABHA TAJHA СTPOГO ДOBEPЛИBO ДOBEPЛИBO ИHTEPNO
Norway STRICTLY EMERGENCY INHIBITIVE CONFIDENTIAL LIMIT SET
OCCAR OCCAR TOP SECRET OCCAR SECRET OCCAR CONFIDENTIAL OCCAR RESTRICTED
Austria Top secret Secret Confidential Limited
Pakistan ( Urdu ) Intahai Khufia Khufia Sigh-E-Raz Barai Mahdud Taqsim
Paraguay Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Peru Estrictamente Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Philippines Top secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Poland Ściśle Tajne Tajne Pouffe Zastrzeżone
Portugal Muito Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
Romania Strict secret de importanță deosebită Strict secret Secret Secret du serviciu
Russia Особой важности Osoboj washnosti Совершенно секретно Soverschenno sekretno Секретно secretno Для служебного пользования Dlja slushebnogo pol'sovanija
Saudi Arabia Saudi Top Secret Saudi Very Secret Saudi Secret Saudi Restricted
Sweden HEMLIG / TOP SECRET HEMLIG or
AV SYNNERLIG BETYDELSE FÖR RIKETS SÄKERHET 		HEMLIG / SECRET or
HEMLIG 		HEMLIG / CONFIDENTIAL or
HEMLIG 		EMLIG / RESTRICTED or
HEMLIG
Switzerland SECRET or
SECRET or
SEGRETO 		CONFIDENTIEL or
CONFIDENTIAL or
CONFIDENTIAL 		INTERNAL or
INTERNAL or
AD USO INTERNO
Slovakia Prísne tajné Tajné Dôverné Vyhradené
Slovenia STROGO TAJNO TAJNO ZAUPNO INTERO
Spain SECRETO RESERVADO CONFIDENCIAL DIFUSIÓN LIMITADA
South Africa (English) Top secret Secret Confidential Restricted
South Africa ( Afrikaans ) Uiter's secret Secret Vertroulik Beperk
South Korea I-Kup Bi Mil 1 급 비밀 II-Kup Bi Mil 2 급 비밀 III-Kup Bi Mil 3 급 비밀 Dae Woi Bi 대외비
Taiwan Chichimi Chimi    
Thailand ลับ ที่สุด Lap Thisut ลับ มาก Lap Mak ลับ Lap ปกปิด Pok Pid
Czech Republic Přísně tajné Tajné Důvěrné Vyhrazené
Turkey Çok Gizli Gizli Özel Hizmete Özel
Ukraine Цiлком тaємно Тaємно
Hungary Szigorúan titkos! Titkos! Bizalmas! Korlátozott terjesztésű!
Uruguay Ultra Secreto Secreto Confidencial Reservado
United States Top secret Secret Confidential Restricted
Vietnam Toi-mat Mat Kin Pho Bien Han Che

See also

literature

  • High Command of the Wehrmacht (Ed.): H.Dv. 99, M.Dv.Nr. 9, L.Dv. 99 - classified information regulation - valid for the armed forces . Books on Demand, Norderstedt 1943, ISBN 978-3-7494-6692-4 ( online reading sample - reproduction of the original).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b General administrative regulation on material security (classified information - VSA). August 10, 2018, accessed October 25, 2019 .
  2. ↑ BSI approval. Retrieved May 7, 2019 .
  3. ↑ BSI - Approval - BSI Document 7164: List of approved IT security products and systems. Retrieved May 7, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Appendix VIII Instructions for classified information - sample. (PDF) In: Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Home Affairs . August 10, 2018 (with samples for the evidence of the obligation, approval and authorization).;
  5. ↑ DV 010/0/009, Protection of State Secrets in the National People's Army
  6. ^ Rudolf Absolon: The Wehrmacht in the Third Reich . Volume 1: January 30, 1933 to August 2, 1934. With a look back at the military system in Prussia, the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. (= Publications of the Federal Archives. Volume 16, 1). 2nd Edition. Harald Boldt-Verlag im R. Oldenbourg-Verlag, Boppard am Rhein 1998, ISBN 3-486-41070-9 , p. XII.
  7. ^ A b Bernward Dörner : The Germans and the Holocaust. What nobody wanted to know, but everyone could know. Propylaen-Verlag, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-549-07315-5 , p. 638 with note 90.
  8. ↑ Führerbefehl Nr. 1, facsimile, in: Alfred de Zayas : Genölkermord als Staatsgeheimnis , Munich 2011, p. 189.
  9. ↑ Martin Moll (Hrsg.): "Führer-Erasse" 1939–1945 : Edition of all handed-down directives from the areas of state, party, economy, occupation policy and military administration issued in writing by Hitler during the Second World War, not printed in the Reichsgesetzblatt . Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-515-06873-2 , document 174, p. 263 ff.
  10. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.2 (a) & Sec. 1.2 (b), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.2 (a) (1), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  12. ^ Authority chaos : America's secret services are wasting time and money. (No longer available online.) In: Spiegel Online . July 19, 2010, archived from the original on July 19, 2010 ; Retrieved July 19, 2013 .
  13. ^ Dana Priest & William M. Arkin: Top Secret America: A hidden world, growing beyond control. (No longer available online.) In: The Washington Post . July 19, 2010, archived from the original on October 30, 2010 ; Retrieved July 19, 2013 .
  14. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.2 (a) (2), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  15. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.2 (a) (3), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  16. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.4 (a) - (h), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  17. ↑ Part 1, Sec. 1.7 (a) (1) & Sec. 1.7 (a) (2), Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 - Classified National Security Information , In: United States Government Printing Office . January 5, 2010, accessed January 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ Fabian Schmid: Mysterious Snowden leak shows British spy base in Oman. In: derstandard.at . June 4, 2014, accessed January 13, 2017 .
  19. ^ Luke Harding : The Snowden files: The inside story of the world's most wanted man . Guardian Books, London 2014, ISBN 978-1-78335-035-3 , pp. 176 (English): At first the reporters had no idea what 'strap one' and 'strap two' meant. It was only later they realized these were classifications beyond top secret.
  20. ↑ Jeffrey T. Richelson: The US Intelligence Community . 7th edition. Westview Press, Boulder (Colorado) 2016, ISBN 978-0-8133-4918-3 , Chapter 19 - Managing Intelligence Collection, Covert Action, and Information Access, pp. 551 (English).
  21. ^ Mark M. Lowenthal : Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy . 6th edition. CQ Press, Thousand Oaks (California) 2015, ISBN 978-1-4833-0778-7 , Chapter 5 - Collection and the Collection Disciplines, pp. 93 (English): Within TOP SECRET are numerous TOP SECRET / CODEWORD compartments — meaning specific bodies of intelligence based on their sources.
  22. ↑ Jeffrey T. Richelson: The US Intelligence Community . 7th edition. Westview Press, Boulder (Colorado) 2016, ISBN 978-0-8133-4918-3 , Chapter 19 - Managing Intelligence Collection, Covert Action, and Information Access, pp. 553-555 (English).
  23. ↑ Jeffrey T. Richelson: The US Intelligence Community . 7th edition. Westview Press, Boulder (Colorado) 2016, ISBN 978-0-8133-4918-3 , Chapter 19 - Managing Intelligence Collection, Covert Action, and Information Access, pp. 552 (English).
  24. ↑ Jeffrey T. Richelson: The US Intelligence Community . 7th edition. Westview Press, Boulder (Colorado) 2016, ISBN 978-0-8133-4918-3 , Chapter 19 - Managing Intelligence Collection, Covert Action, and Information Access, pp. 562 (English).
  25. ↑ a b point 2.1.1 of Annex VII (Instructions on the handling of classified information from foreign states as well as supranational or intergovernmental organizations) of the General Administrative Regulations on Material Secrecy (Classified Information - VSA) of August 10, 2018 , accessed on June 16, 2019.
  26. ↑ Comparison table of degrees of confidentiality. (PDF) In: Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Home Affairs . Retrieved March 20, 2020 .
  27. ↑ at NISPOM app. B dss.mil. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on September 25, 2010 ; Retrieved May 17, 2008 .
  28. ↑ LIGJ No. 8457 - PËR INFORMACIONIN E KLASIFIKUAR “SECRET SHTETËROR”. (PDF; 179 kB) In: shish.gov.al. SHISH , February 11, 1999, accessed March 24, 2020 (Albanian, last amended by Law No. 25 of March 15, 2012).
  29. ↑ LEY DE INTELIGENCIA NACIONAL - Ley 25.520. In: argentina.gob.ar. Argentine National Congress , December 6, 2001, accessed March 24, 2020 (Spanish, last amended by Decree No. 214 of March 5, 2020).
  30. ↑ 中华人民共和国 保守 国家 秘密 法  - "Law on the Preservation of State Secrets of the People's Republic of China" of September 5, 1988, online
  31. ↑ a b c d Annex VI Classified Information Instructions - Instructions for handling classified information from foreign states and supranational or intergovernmental organizations. In: Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Home . August 10, 2018, accessed October 25, 2019 .
  32. ↑ Council Decision 2009/968 / JHA of 30 November 2009 on the adoption of the confidentiality rules for Europol information
  33. ↑ The phrase "DIFFUSION RESTREINTE" is not part of the secrecy levels in the narrower sense: It is a security statement that does not fall under criminal law, but the disclosure of which can be punished from the point of view of professional secrecy.
  34. ^ Guidance - Government Security Classifications. In: https://www.gov.uk/ . Retrieved May 3, 2019 .
  35. ↑ Reglugerð um vernd trúnaðarupplýsinga, öryggisvottanir og öryggisviðurkenningar á sviði öryggis- og varnarmála. In: reglugerd.is. October 28, 2012, Retrieved March 20, 2020 (Icelandic).
  36. ↑ Agreement between the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Macedonian government on the mutual protection of classified information of July 27, 2012, Federal Law Gazette II 2014 No. 3, p. 113, there in capitals
  37. ↑ § 2 Paragraph 2 - Information Security Act. Retrieved March 27, 2013 .
  38. ↑ Information Protection Ordinance of July 4, 2007.
  39. ↑ 2009. évi CLV. törvény a minősített adat védelméről. In: net.jogtar.hu. March 20, 2018, accessed March 20, 2020 (Hungarian).