What Should Be Classified?: A Framework with Application to the Global Force Management Data Initiative (Rand Corporation Monograph)

Libicki, Martin C.; Jackson, Brian A.; Frelinger, David R.; Lachman, Beth E.; Ip, Cesse

ISBN 10: 083305001X / ISBN 13: 9780833050014

Editore: RAND Corporation, 2011

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Codice articolo ABLIING23Mar2317530005637

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: What Should Be Classified?: A Framework with Application to the Global Force Management Data Initiative (Rand Corporation Monograph)
• Editore: RAND Corporation
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 083305001X
• ISBN 13: 9780833050014
• Rilegatura: Brossura
• Condizione: New

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

For its operational planning and budget programming, the Department of Defense (DoD) needs frequent access to current, detailed data on authorized force structures for all the services. Having users aggregate this information themselves was difficult, time consuming, and error prone. Hence, DoD launched the Global Force Management Data Initiative (GFM DI). While most of the data from the GFM DI are unclassified, the fact that it facilitates data aggregation raised concerns about what a potential adversary might be able to do with access to it and whether it would be better to classify such data and store it exclusively on the secure network. The authors address this question by looking at why material should or should not be classified, concluding that classification is warranted only (1) if it reduces the amount of information available to adversaries, (2) if the information kept from adversaries would tell them something they did not know, (3) if they could make better decisions based on this information, and (4) if such decisions would harm the United States. Using this framework, the authors balance the risks of GFM DI poses against the costs to DoD of not having this information readily available to its own analysts. The authors conclude that overall classification is not necessary but suggest that some limited subsets may warrant additional protection.

Product Description

The Global Force Management Data Initiative was launched to improve aggregation of unclassified force-structure data. Aggregation, though, raised concerns about classification because the system might be attractive to a potential adversary. The authors develop a framework for evaluating classification decisions to determine that, while overall classification is not indicated, the inclusion of some data will require careful consideration.