New UK secrecy definitions (1)
01 January 1991
New UK secrecy definitions
artdoc June=1994
The UK government has announced a new system of classifying
secret documents known as the `protective security marking
system'. The Prime Minister said that the new system followed a
review conducted in the light of the changing nature of threats
to national security. He said:
In recent years, the nature of the threats to government
security has changed. Whilst some of the traditional
threats to national security may have somewhat reduced,
others have not. The security of government is also
increasingly threatened by for example theft, copying and
electronic surveillance, as well as by terrorism.
The new classification system still has four categories (full-
text given below). The language too has been modernised. Markings
are given to `assets' (including information) whose exposure or
publication would `compromise that asset or information'. The
first is Top Secret: the old definition related to `causing
exceptionally grave damage to the nation', the new one says:
the compromise of this information or material would be
likely: to threaten directly the internal stability of the
UK or friendly countries; to lead directly to widespread
loss of life; to cause exceptionally grave damage to the
effectiveness or security of UK or allied forces or to the
continuing effectiveness of extremely valuable security or
intelligence operations; to cause exceptionally grave
damage to relations with friendly governments; to cause
severe long-term damage to the UK economy.
The second Secret previously defined as `causing serious injury
to the interests of the nation' is now:
the compromise of this information or material would be
likely: to raise international tension; to damage seriously
relations with friendly governments; to threaten like
directly, or seriously prejudice public order, or
individual security or liberty; to cause serious damage to
the operational effectiveness or security of UK or allied
forces or the continuing effectiveness of highly valuable
security or intelligence operations; to cause substantial
material damage to national finances or economic and
commercial interests.
The third Confidential was `being damaging to the interests of
the nation' and is now:
the compromise of this information or material would be
likely: materially to damage diplomatic relations (ie:
cause formal protest or other sanction); to prejudice
individual security or liberty; to cause damage to the
operational effectiveness or security of UK or allied
forces or the effectiveness of valuable security or
intelligence operations; to work substantially against
national finances or economic or commercial interests;
substantially to undermine the financial viability of major
organisations; to impede the investigation or facilitate
the commission of serious crime; to impede seriously the
development or operation of major government policies; to
shut down or otherwise substantially disrupt significant
national operations.
The fourth Restricted was `being undesirable in the interests of
the nation' and is now:
the compromise of this information or material would be
likely to affect diplomatic relations adversely; to cause
substantial distress to individuals; to make it more
difficult to maintain the operational effectiveness or
security of UK or allied forces; to cause financial loss or
loss of earnings potential to or facilitate improper gain
or advantage for individuals or companies; to prejudice the
investigation or facilitate the commission of crime; to
breach proper undertakings to maintain the confidence of
information provided by third parties; to impede the
effective develo