Detectives in Warsaw ›› What is the Secrecy Guarantee for Classified Information?
What is the Secrecy Guarantee for Classified Information?
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What is Classified Information?
Classified information, as defined in Polish law on the protection of classified information, is “information whose unauthorized disclosure would or could cause harm to the Republic of Poland or would be detrimental from the standpoint of its interests, even in the preparatory phase and irrespective of its form or manner of expression.” Such information could threaten the country’s independence and sovereignty or endanger state economic interests. Therefore, access to classified information is strictly supervised and restricted, making it inaccessible to unauthorized individuals.
Powers and Access
Due to the critical importance of classified information to national security, control over its protection is vested primarily in the Internal Security Agency and the Military Counterintelligence Service. These authorities are responsible for clearance proceedings for individuals seeking access to classified information. During this process, an evaluation is conducted to determine whether there are reasonable doubts regarding the individual’s suitability, considering factors such as:
- Links with foreign special services or criminal or subversive organizations;
- whether circumstances exist that might enable blackmail or pressure to be applied to the individual;
- whether the person is concealing essential information relevant to the protection of classified information during the clearance process;
- whether, if the person has previously had access to classified information, they handled it properly;
- whether the person has not been convicted of an intentional crime prosecuted by public indictment if the conviction raises concerns as referred to in Article 24(2) and (3) of the Act;
- whether the person’s assets correspond to their income;
- whether the individual is not addicted to alcohol, drugs, or psychotropic substances;
- whether the person does not suffer from illnesses or mental health issues that would prevent them from handling classified information responsibly.
Each clearance process concludes with the issuance of a security clearance, discontinuation, or denial of clearance. Holding this document grants access to classified information, serving as proof of the individual’s commitment to maintaining secrecy. Additionally, every person entrusted with classified documents is informed of their duty to protect classified information. Thus, individuals with access to classified information bear a great responsibility, of which they must be fully aware. Check us out at: https://detektywigroup.pl/en/oferta/comprehensive-information-protection
