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Principles of Intelligence Transparency - Download the PDF

In 2015, the Principles of Intelligence Transparency for the IC and the Transparency Implementation Plan were developed to institutionalize transparency; at the same time, the ODNI Civil Liberties and Privacy Office was renamed the Office of Civil Liberties, Privacy, and Transparency (CLPT). The overall goal is to make appropriate and responsible transparency more coordinated, credible, understandable, and sustainable.

 

The Principles of Intelligence Transparency for the Intelligence Community are intended to facilitate IC decisions on making information publicly available in a manner that enhances public understanding of intelligence activities, while continuing to protect information when disclosure would harm national security.

These Principles do not modify or supersede applicable laws, executive orders, and directives, including Executive Order 13526, Classified National Security Information. Instead, they articulate the general norms that elements of the IC should follow in implementing those authorities and requirements.

 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence continues to lead an IC-wide effort to implement the Principles of Intelligence Transparency for the IC. Those principles call on the IC to be proactive and strategic in enhancing public understanding of the IC’s mission, how the IC accomplishes that mission, and the IC’s framework of rules, compliance, and oversight.

 

The IC is, through the recently-chartered Intelligence Transparency Council, executing a range of transparency initiatives under the Intelligence Transparency Plan.


 The Intelligence Community Will:

Provide appropriate transparency to enhance public understanding about:

 

Be proactive and clear in making information publicly available through authorized channels, including affirmative steps to:


In protecting information about intelligence sources, methods, and activities from unauthorized disclosure, ensure that IC professionals consistently and diligently execute their responsibilities to:

 
Align IC roles, resources, processes, and policies to support robust implementation of these principles, consistent with applicable laws, executive orders, and directives.