DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(U//FOUO) ConSIDer This: What Does It Mean to Downgrade
COMINT?
FROM: SIGINT Communications
Unknown
Run Date: 02/19/2004
FROM: SIGINT Communications
Unknown
(C//SI) Downgrading is often confused with sanitization:
Sanitization is carried out in order to make COMINT
information releasable outside of COMINT channels (e.g.,
making it straight SECRET).
Downgrading, by contrast, does not involve taking material
out of COMINT channels -- the information stays either
within or outside of COMINT channels, and that aspect of it
does not change. The only change is to the classification
level. So, for example, changing text from TS//SI to S//SI
would be a downgrade, as would changing TOP SECRET
information to SECRET. In order to downgrade COMINT, a
plausible cover (i.e., collection from a less sensitive source)
must exist.
SERIES:
(U) ConSIDer This:
1. Con SID er This:
Electronic Records
2. Con SID er This: The
ABC's of Second
Party Liaison
3. Con SID er This:
Military Rank
Abbreviations
4. Con SID er This:
What Does It Mean
to Downgrade
COMINT?
(U//FOUO) The downgrading of U.S. COMINT is performed only by:
an Original Classification Authority (OCA) at NSA, in
coordination with the Information Security Policy office
(DC322), or
personnel tasked specifically with the formal review and
declassification of cryptologic materials. (These are NSA
employees and contractors working to comply with E.O.
12958, and does not include anyone in the SIGINT
Directorate below the level of OCA.)
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108