Legal Definitions - classified information

Classified information refers to government-held data, documents, or materials that have been officially designated as requiring protection against unauthorized disclosure. This designation is made because revealing such information could cause damage to national security, foreign relations, or other critical government interests. Access to classified information is strictly limited to individuals who have the appropriate security clearance and a legitimate "need to know" for their official duties.

• Imagine the detailed battle plans for a future military exercise involving multiple branches of the armed forces. These plans would outline troop movements, equipment deployment, communication frequencies, and strategic objectives. Such information would be designated as classified to prevent adversaries from gaining an advantage or compromising the safety of personnel.

  This example illustrates classified information because the battle plans are government-created data, officially designated for protection due to potential harm to national security if revealed, and access is restricted to authorized military personnel with a need to know.

• Consider a confidential intelligence report compiled by a national security agency detailing the specific methods and targets of a foreign state's advanced cyber warfare unit. This report might include vulnerabilities discovered in the foreign state's systems or the identities of key operatives.

  This demonstrates classified information as it is government-collected data, officially protected to safeguard intelligence sources and methods, and its disclosure could severely damage national security or diplomatic relations, thus limiting access to cleared intelligence officials.

• Think about the engineering blueprints and technical specifications for a highly advanced, experimental aircraft developed for a nation's air force. These documents would detail proprietary stealth technologies, unique propulsion systems, and advanced sensor arrays that give the aircraft a significant strategic advantage.

  Here, the blueprints and specifications represent classified information because they are government-funded materials officially designated for protection. Their unauthorized release could compromise national defense capabilities and technological superiority, meaning only engineers and officials with the proper clearance and a direct role in the project would have access.