AN ANONYMOUS CLASSIFICATION CHALLENGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R002800040008-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: July 27, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Administration
FROM: Executive Assistant to the DDCI
Regarding the attached, the DDCI believes his
notice to NFIC on leaks is properly classified because
the document reveals a security vulnerability of CIA.
He accordingly requests that the notice signed by you
be reclassified Confidential.
STAT
Attachment
STAT
Date 13 August 1984
FORM 101 US? PREVIOUS
5-75
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July 27, 1984
Subject: An Anonymous Classification Challenge
Prepared By: Rudolph H. Waddy, ISOO Program Analyst
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
- At approximately 9:40 a.m.S Friday, Information Security Oversight Officeu(ISOO) received the
an anonymous phone call from a self-identified
Government employee.
- Miss Janet Brooks, ISOO staff member received the call.
Miss Brooks said, the caller (male) asked for the ISOO
liaison with the Central Intelligence Agency. However,
at 10:04 a.m. on July 27, 1984, Miss Brooks said that
she could not remember if the caller used the term
"Agency" or "Central Intelligence Agency."
- Miss Brooks then transferred the call to Mr. Harold
Mason's desk, who was (unknown to her) on leave. She
then contacted me, Rudolph Waddy and asked me to help
the caller, I said, sure.
- The caller said that he did not wish to identify
himself, but did say that he was a Government employee.
Th
e caller said the he had recently read a
"Confidential" memo or article entitled "Media Leaks"
dated July 23, 1984, and signed by John Director of the Central IntelligenceAgencyahon, Deputy
He went on to say that, the classification of articles
of this nature give -
disrespect the overnment employees more cause to
present classification system.
He said, in his opinion and the opinion of others, that
there was absolutely nothi
ng classifiable about this
article, and that it did not merit a "Confidential"
classification.
- The caller then requested that someone in this office
(ISOO) take a look at it.
I then asked the caller if he, in affect was
challenging the classification of this document. He
said, yes.
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I then asked him who should IS00 contact in order to
obtain a copy of the document.
He gave me the following information:
. Document Control Number - INFIC - 9.2/72
. Phone Number -
STAT
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CONFIDENT
ANA I IONAF. FOREIGN' INI F Ijj(;EN(i: ('OUN(IL
WAS)ltNC O\ 0C. 20501
NFIC-9.2/72
23 July 1984
25X1
F{ l
MEMORANDUM FOR: National Foreign Intelligence Council Members
SUBJECT: Media Leaks (U)
1. CIA recently sent its Headquarters employees a notice reminding them
of security requirements concerning unauthorized discussions of classified
information with the media, and of penalties for noncompliance. This was
occasioned by the remarks of a prominent journalist invited to participate in
a discussion on intelligence and the media at a seminar for senior CIA
officers. The journalist assured the group that he has sources of classified
information among CIA employees. He said he is sometimes assisted in spotting
CIA sources by analysts in other departments and agencies who identify
individuals dealing with specific issues or topics within CIA. He added that
he then calls the CIA employees at their es in the evening and finds that
some of them are willing to talk.
2. If the claim is true, Intelligence Community personnel may be
unthinkingly facilitating the efforts of journalists to obtain and publish
classified information, thereby making it available to foreign intelligence
services. CIA is responsible for ensuring that its personnel adhere to
regulations governing press contacts. It would be helpful to the security of
intelligence information generally if appropriate personnel in the NFIC
departments and agencies were briefed on the hazards of being used by media
representatives to provide referrals, and on their security obligations not to
respond to media inquiries on sensitive subjects. Any media inquiries about
the CIA or its activities, whether classified or unclassified, should be
referred to the CIA office
Aff
f P
b
o
u
lic
3. Your help in trying to reduce unnecessary discussion with the media
of sensitive or potentially sensitive matters would be greatly appreciated.
(OUO)
I
25X1
John N. McMahon
(1f- July 1984)
.V Vice Chairman
CL BY SIGNER
DECL OADR
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CONFIDENTIAL
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Security' Committee
SECOM-D-141
11 July 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR:
VIA:
FROM:
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Acting Director, Intelligence Community Staff
SUBJECT:
Media Leaks (U)
1. Action Requested: That you sign, as Vice Chairman, National Foreign
Intelligence Council NFIC), a memorandum to NFIC members alerting them to a
security problem and asking their assistance in r
d
eme
ying it.
25X1
Ba
2
k
.
c
ground and Discussion: This spring, journalis
participated in a discussion on intelligence and the media
seminar for new SIS officers. Taubman told the,group that
information among CIA employees, and that he is steered to
other Community organizations. After this information was
Headquarters Notice (copy attached) was sent out to remind
their security obligations and
en
l
i
t Philip T
as par of
he hastsou
them by an
pro
allvided t
Pmnln
aubman
a
rces of
al st
o your an
ees
f
p
a
t
es for noncompliance.
o
25X1
3. Taubman' s claim that persons in other departments and agencies help
him by providing names of CIA analysts working on
the need to notify the Commmunity of the security hazardslinvolvvedein shows
providing such leads, and to ask NFIC Members to instruct their personnel not
to respond to media inquiries on sensitive subjects. A
do so is attached. Since Taubman specifically mentioned State Department
analysts as sources of leads to CIA pesonl, you proposed memorandum to
Director, INR, informally to reinforcer
thene
e inaytact the
message i~nythesaqto cont
memorandum- I I ~w l
(U 4. Recommmendation: That you sign the attached proposed memorandum.
Attachmentc.?
A.
B. Proposed memorandum
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SUBJECT: Media Leaks (U)
C0
Q
13 JUL 1984
u ity Staff Date
2
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nu''ll~f~hllvt_ - 1hILKNAL U,t UhL1
This Notice Expires I November 1984
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
12 April 1984
MEDIA LEAKS
Reference:
No Field Counterpart to this RN
1. At a recent Agency training course for senior officers, a
prominent journalist participated in a discussion on intelligence and the
media. Among other things, he assured the group that he has sources of
classified information among CIA employees. He said he is sometimes
assisted in spotting CIA sources by analysts in other departments and
agencies who tell him of Individuals dealing with specific issues or
topics within the Agency. He then calls the CIA employees at home in the
evening and finds that some of them are willing to talk.
2. This revelation is shocking. Agency regulations, security
indoctrinations, and the very environment in which we live leave no doubt
in the minds of employees that unauthorized discussions with the media
about classified information are a serious breach of security and trust
of employment.
3. Employees are reminded
h
t
at under the terms of
of Agency Information to Re
r
p
esentatives of the Public In Media,
inquiries, whether official or unofficial from representatives of,
the media must be referred to the Public Affairs Office. This policy is
firm. Employees who are discovered violating this policy expose
themselves to harsh administrative penalties, including termination of
employment.
Harry E. Fitzwater
Deputy Director
for
Administration
DISTRIBUTION: ALL EMPLOYEES
STAT
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