Derivative classification can be performed by anyone with a security clearance — that's at least 3 million people, from entry-level soldiers to contractors in private industry to high-ranking ...

So is the 42% dip that impressive if the bulk of CIA classification is “derivative,” not “original?” ISOO notes that executive branch agencies reported over 95 million derivative ...

A fascinating Twitter thread by the former CIA lawyer Brian Greer explains that most of the information classified by the government is put under classification by default, as a “derivative ...