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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Declassification</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Declassified" redirects here. For another use, see <a href="Declassified_(2004_TV_series)" title="Declassified (2004 TV series)">Declassified (2004 TV series)</a>.</div>
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<p><b>Declassification</b> is the process of ceasing a protective <a href="Classified_information" title="Classified information">classification</a>, often under the principle of <a href="Freedom_of_information" title="Freedom of information">freedom of information</a>. Procedures for declassification vary by country. Papers may be withheld without being classified as secret, and eventually made available.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="United_Kingdom">United Kingdom</h2></div>
<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="Freedom_of_information_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Freedom of information in the United Kingdom">Freedom of information in the United Kingdom</a></div>
<p>Classified information has been governed by various Official Secrets Acts, the latest being the <a href="Official_Secrets_Act_1989" title="Official Secrets Act 1989">Official Secrets Act 1989</a>. Until 1989 requested information was routinely kept secret invoking the public interest defence; this was largely removed by the 1989 Act. The <a href="Freedom_of_Information_Act_2000" title="Freedom of Information Act 2000">Freedom of Information Act 2000</a> largely requires information to be disclosed unless there are good reasons for secrecy.
</p><p>Confidential government papers such as the yearly cabinet papers used routinely to be withheld formally, although not necessarily classified as secret, for 30 years under the <a href="Thirty_year_rule" class="mw-redirect" title="Thirty year rule">thirty year rule</a>, and released usually on a <a href="New_Year's_Day" title="New Year's Day">New Year's Day</a>; freedom of information legislation has relaxed this rigid approach.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="United_States">United States</h2></div>
<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Classified_information_in_the_United_States#Declassification" title="Classified information in the United States">Classified information in the United States ยง Declassification</a></div>
<p><a href="Executive_Order_13526" title="Executive Order 13526">Executive Order 13526</a> establishes the mechanisms for most declassifications, within the laws passed by Congress.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The originating agency assigns a declassification date, by default 25 years. After 25 years, declassification review is automatic with nine narrow exceptions that allow information to remain as classified. At 50 years, there are two exceptions, and classifications beyond 75 years require special permission.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Because of changes in policy and circumstances, agencies are expected to actively review documents that have been classified for fewer than 25 years. They must also respond to Mandatory Declassification Review and <a href="Freedom_of_Information_Act_(United_States)" title="Freedom of Information Act (United States)">Freedom of Information Act</a> requests. The <a href="National_Archives_and_Records_Administration" title="National Archives and Records Administration">National Archives and Records Administration</a> houses the National Declassification Center to coordinate reviews and <a href="Information_Security_Oversight_Office" title="Information Security Oversight Office">Information Security Oversight Office</a> to promulgate rules and enforce quality measures across all agencies. NARA reviews documents on behalf of defunct agencies and permanently stores declassified documents for public inspection. The <a href="Interagency_Security_Classification_Appeals_Panel" title="Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel">Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel</a> has representatives from several agencies.
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Freedom_of_information" title="Freedom of information">Freedom of information</a></li>
<li><a href="Freedom_of_information_legislation" class="mw-redirect" title="Freedom of information legislation">Freedom of information legislation</a></li>
<li><i><a href="United_States_v._Reynolds" title="United States v. Reynolds">United States v. Reynolds</a></i></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/open/declassification">"Declassification"</a>. <i>www.justice.gov</i>. September 9, 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 28,</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/open/declassification/declassification-faq">"Declassification Frequently Asked Questions"</a>. <i>www.justice.gov</i>. September 9, 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 28,</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>
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