Information Sharing in the Era of WikiLeaks: Balancing Security and Collaboration
Abstract
As the IC Information Sharing Executive (IC ISE), my main focus today concerns classified information--and, in particular, information that is derived from intelligence sources and methods, or information that is reflected in the analytic judgments and assessments that the IC produces. I want to be clear, though, that our concern for the protection of information is not restricted to the fragility of sources and methods, but extends as well to broader aspects of national security. We recognize, and will hear today, that the Departments of State and Defense, as well as other federal agencies, themselves originate classified national security information that is vital to the protection of our nation and conduct of our foreign relations, and this information is, like intelligence information, widely distributed and used throughout the government to achieve these objectives. As we have seen recently, the unauthorized disclosure of any form of classified national security information has serious implications for the policy and operational aspects of national security. I am acutely aware that our major task is to find what the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has termed the "sweet spot" between the two critical imperatives of sharing and protecting information. To ensure that we share and protect information effectively, we work to find the "sweet spot," as the compelling need for information sharing remains a top priority for the DNI and the IC. The need is compelling because information sharing is essential to provide quality intelligence support to such disparate activities as coalition warfare, counternarcotics, counterproliferation, homeland security, and cybersecurity. Intelligence judgments and reports that reflect our commitment to sharing information are also essential to support senior policymakers who must deal with matters of increasing complexity in a world that is interconnected and fast-paced.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA539585
Entities
People
- Corin R. Stone
Organizations
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence