“Sensitive but unclassified” is a term used by US government agencies to refer to information that is unclassified but sensitive, posing a threat to national security or revealing personal details. The term was introduced by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to protect government correspondence from public disclosure. Personal information, contractor proposals, border control details, and law enforcement information are often protected under this designation. The information can only be made public under the supervision of government officials, and different types of security terms are used for sensitive documents.
“Sensitive but unclassified” is a term used by US federal and local government agencies to refer to information that is unclassified for national security reasons. While unclassified, the information is often of a sensitive nature that may pose a threat to national security or reveal personal details of individuals included in the documents. To be marked as “sensitive but unclassified,” government document content must meet criteria set forth in the US Freedom of Information Act.
President Jimmy Carter introduced the phrase “sensitive but unclassified” when he introduced the National Telecommunications Security Policy on November 16, 1977. The policy was designed to protect information passed between government agencies from public disclosure as a blockade full or partial content of government correspondence. The term can also be used as a protection against unauthorized disclosure, allowing prosecution of those responsible for disclosing government secrets to the public.
Personal information is often protected to ensure government employees and contractors are safe from releasing their details to the public. These details include social security numbers, salary information, and medical records. Contractor proposals and bids are often held securely under the “sensitive but unclassified” tag until it is safe to be released.
Border control details regarding the issuance of visas, the right of foreign nationals to enter the United States, and asylum applications are some of the secured but unclassified details for national security. Any threats to national security, such as passwords and usernames that provide access to networks and systems that could be used to harm the United States, are usually assigned the term sensitive security to protect the country’s infrastructure. “Sensitive but unclassified” is also given to correspondence between US and foreign governments that could be harmful to international relations if made publicly available. Law enforcement information can also be protected in this way, especially details of ongoing or sensitive investigations.
Once government information receives the “sensitive but unclassified” designation, it can only be made public under the supervision of government officials. Each government department has its own rules regarding the passing of sensitive documents; for example, the US Department of State permits the transfer of information within the department only without permission from designated officials. Different types of security terms are used for sensitive documents, including SBU/NOFORN, which cannot be released to non-US citizens. Transmitting these documents online usually requires encryption using US government software.
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