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This is wrong. The classification level of information is determined by confidentiality of the information's source. This is done to protect deeply embedded or

by dvdhnt 9y ago

This is wrong. The classification level of information is determined by confidentiality of the information's source. This is done to protect deeply embedded or highly technical means of information gathering. For example, information that could have only come from the second in command of some organization would require the highest of security classifications whereas information that could have come from any dozens of members of that organization would only require a confidential or secret classification. Information is required to be classified at the lowest possible level, a guideline that is both taught and enforced throughout most if not all of the Intelligence Community. source: I was an intelligence analyst for 6+ years.

tsaoutourpants 9y ago
It is certainly correct that DHS, and to some extent our government generally, is known for over-classifying things either out of laziness, desire to avoid embarrassment, or because they believe that anything remotely security related needs to be hidden. As an intelligence analyst, you likely didn't see the misclassified things (I'd imagine roughly everything you did was classified for good reason). It's the political officials who are more likely to over-classify.
- dvdhnt 9y ago
  That's a fair accusation - you're responsible for increasing the classification of material if you find it to be under-classified, or request a review in the opposite case. So, it wouldn't be surprising if something came across the desk of a decision-maker or the IC's version of middle-management and they selfishly raised its classification hoping it'd be lost in a blackhole for fear of embarrassment, etc.
subterfudge44 9y ago
Depends of objective of classification. What you say is applicable when the objective is national security. When the objective is to hide incompetence it makes sense to make everything classified.

by dvdhnt 9y ago

tsaoutourpants 9y ago

It is certainly correct that DHS, and to some extent our government generally, is known for over-classifying things either out of laziness, desire to avoid embarrassment, or because they believe that anything remotely security related needs to be hidden. As an intelligence analyst, you likely didn't see the misclassified things (I'd imagine roughly everything you did was classified for good reason). It's the political officials who are more likely to over-classify.

dvdhnt 9y ago
That's a fair accusation - you're responsible for increasing the classification of material if you find it to be under-classified, or request a review in the opposite case. So, it wouldn't be surprising if something came across the desk of a decision-maker or the IC's version of middle-management and they selfishly raised its classification hoping it'd be lost in a blackhole for fear of embarrassment, etc.

subterfudge44 9y ago

Depends of objective of classification. What you say is applicable when the objective is national security. When the objective is to hide incompetence it makes sense to make everything classified.