secret défense 1/87: The principle of classification

vendredi 18 novembre 2022

The principle of classification - English Version

THE PRINCIPLE OF CLASSIFICATION

- ENGLISH VERSION -

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- Version Française -

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Up date: November 18, 2022

The term "Secret Defense" is used to define a level of access clearance for government or military documents that are restricted by law or regulation to a specific group for National Security reasons.

A classification system is used by intelligence services in France and abroad. Although classification systems differ from one country to another, most of them have levels corresponding to those defined below

This system is divided into 5 terms:

French: Très Secret Défense

(English version: Top secret)

The highest level of classification of information. Public disclosure of this information regarding governmental defense and national security priorities could cause serious harm to defense and national security.

French: Secret Défense

(English version: Secret)

The public disclosure of information classified as Defense Secret could seriously harm Defense and national security.

French: Confidentiel Défense

(English Version : Confidential)

The public disclosure of information classified as confidential could be harmful to defense and national security. (In France, it has been decided that this level will disappear in 2020)

French: Diffusion Restreinte

(English Version : Restricted)

Public disclosure of restricted information could cause adverse effects. Some countries do not use this classification.

French: Non Classifié.

(English Version : Unclassified)

Technically, this is not a classification, but this level is used for government documents whose sensitivity level does not match one of the above classifications. These documents can be read without specific clearance.

FOR FRANCE

(from the 2018 Report on National Defense Secrecy given by the SGDSN (Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Sécurité Nationale Française, in English: French General Secretariat for Defense and National Security)

You can find the 2018 report in French Version

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The French "Secret Defense" can concern military operations, the fight against terrorism, criminal organisations or plans and studies related to strategic programs.

In 2017, 400,000 people were cleared for classified documents, including:
68% at the Ministry of Defense
14% at the Ministry of Ecological Transition
11% at the Ministry of the Interior
2% at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1% at the Ministry of Justice
1% to the Ministry of Education
1% in the Ministry of Finance
1% in the Ministry of Labor
1% at the Prime Minister's Office

The distribution of documents classified at the French SECRET DEFENSE level in 2017 by French ministry:
26% at the French Ministry in charge of the Ecological Transition
44% at the French Ministry of Defense
13% in the French Ministry of the Interior
17% in the French Prime Minister's office

5 million documents are classified, including more than 586,000 documents classified as "Secret Defense

A document classified as "Secret Defense" can remain so for 100 years if the safety of people is at stake.

Some documents remain inaccessible, in particular those relating to the manufacture, location and use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons...

5 millions de documents sont classifiés dont plus de 586.000 document classifiés"Secret Défense"