TRENDS IN THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000600110011-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2005
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: February 25, 1975
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release9005/07/01 S]CP80B01495R000600'110011
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT : Trends in the Volume of Information
1. This memorandum is for your information and requires
no action. The memorandum and its attachments summarize the
flow of classified documents and cables within and into CIA over
the past few years. The data include only the flow into the Cable
Secretariat and the Central Reference Service.
2. The overall trend was down in CY 1974 with decreases
in document receipts from all sources for the fifth straight year.
Some of this overall decrease is attributable to:
- -The wind-down of direct US participation in
the war in Vietnam.
- -More selective collection and reporting from
the field.
--More responsiveness to consumer requirements.
--Personnel cuts.
In addition, the limited number of international crisis situations
during 1974 may account for some of the drop in the flow of
information reports, particularly in the codeword category.
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3. Attachment A portrays the general trends in document
receipts for CY 1968-CY 1974. Non-codeword cable traffic handled
by the Cable Secretariat dropped 8% in 1974, to its lowest level in
four years. Codeword reports received for dissemination by CRS
decreased 16% in CY 1974. Non-codeword receipts dropped only 2%,
almost stabilizing the downward trend for non-codeword reports
begun in 1969.
4. Attachment B is a detailed table comparing Cy 1973 and
CV 1.A74 rano;r.-r, i.,__ - _ .._r
s messages,
received more frequently. There were no other significant increases
in document receipts in CY 1974.
5. The DDO deserves particular recognition for its CY 1974
efforts in the area of information flow. Time lags, noted earlier
considerably in CY 1974. 1 cN11 ~~~ uecreasea
by the DDO to ensure that all of its reports and enclosures are sent
to CRS for the centralized document storage and retrieval system
have increased the availability of DDO reports to the Agency at
large.
6. The continued downward trend in document flow seems
to give additional credence to those who feel, as I do, that the
so-called "information explosion"--at least with respect to
documents and cables the analysts handle--just doesn't exist.
EDWARD W. PROCTOR
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Attachments:
As Stated
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