Method of determining the grounds for relating data to official information and the degree of restriction access «For official use»

Abstract

The article proposes a method for determining the grounds for classifying data as official information and the degree of access restriction under the label "For official use." The principle of expert assessments applied in this method allows for determining, in the same conventional units (points), the extent of substantial damage that may be caused to the vital interests of Ukraine as a result of the disclosure of information that is or should be classified as official. The method employs both existing and newly introduced terms and definitions, as well as criteria for establishing the grounds necessary to restrict access, in accordance with the requirements of the "three-part test" set forth in Ukrainian legislation. Based on the results of an expert assessment of the magnitude of possible substantial damage in the event of disclosure of information subject to examination and the introduced criterion for determining the degree of access restriction "For official use", a decision is made to classify this data as official information. This method is intended for commissions working with official information and officials responsible for decisions on classifying data as official. It may also be useful for state secrets experts and expert commissions established under their auspices when declassifying state secrets as official information.