Detectives in Warsaw ›› All About Security Classifications
All About Security Classifications
The Act of 5 August 2010 on the Protection of Classified Information removed the distinction between state and official secrets, retaining the existing classification levels: “top secret,” “secret,” “confidential,” and “restricted.”
The protection of classified information is governed by several key principles that the Act’s addressees are required to follow. Classified information assigned a specific security classification:
- May only be accessed by authorized individuals in accordance with the Act’s provisions related to each classification level.
- They shall be processed under conditions that prevent unauthorized disclosure, in accordance with regulations governing requirements for secret offices, ICT security, material circulation, and physical security measures appropriate to the assigned security classification;
- They shall be protected according to the assigned security classification, using security measures specified in the Act and its implementing regulations.
Table of Contents
Security Classification Definitions
There are four security classifications: “Top Secret,” “Secret,” “Confidential,” and “Restricted.”
“Top Secret”
Classified information is assigned this classification if unauthorized disclosure would cause exceptionally serious harm to the Republic of Poland, for instance:
- Threatening the independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of the Republic of Poland;
- Jeopardizing alliances or Poland’s international standing;
- Weakening Poland’s defense readiness.
“Secret”
Information is classified as “Secret” if unauthorized disclosure would cause serious harm to the Republic of Poland, for example:
- Preventing the fulfillment of tasks related to protecting Poland’s sovereignty or constitutional order;
- Damaging Poland’s relations with other countries or international organizations;
- Disrupting the state’s defense preparations or the operations of the Polish Armed Forces.
“Confidential”
Information receives the “Confidential” classification if unauthorized disclosure would harm the Republic of Poland by:
- Hindering the Republic’s current foreign policy;
- Disturbing public order or endangering citizen security;
- Negatively impacting the national economy.
For classified information marked as “Top Secret,” “Secret,” and “Confidential,” two conditions must be jointly met:
- Unauthorized disclosure of this information must pose a threat as outlined according to the classification;
- The consequence of unauthorized disclosure must vary by classification: “Top Secret” results in “exceptionally serious damage,” “Secret” in “serious damage,” and “Confidential” in “damage.”
“Restricted”
Classified information is assigned the “Restricted” designation if it does not meet the criteria for a higher security classification, but unauthorized disclosure could negatively impact the performance of tasks by public authorities or other organizational units in areas such as national defense, foreign policy, public security, citizen rights and freedoms, justice administration, or the economic interests of the Republic of Poland.
Interestingly, different sections of the material may be assigned different security classifications.
