Sensitive Security Information

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m (fixing acessdate/accesdate fields, Replaced: accesdate → accessdate using AWB)
Current revision (17:06, 18 October 2007) (edit) (undo)
(Updated page with correct information about SSI history and regulatory information)
 
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{{Wikify|date=February 2007}}
{{Wikify|date=February 2007}}




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In the aftermath of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the [[Transportation Security Administration]] (TSA) was created in the [[United States]] to take responsibility for the security of all modes of public transportation. Included in the responsibilities of this new agency was the authority to designate information as '''Sensitive Security Information''' (SSI). <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05677.pdf | title=GAO-05-677 Report on SSI | work=[http://www.gao.gov/ The U.S Government Accountability Office] | accessdate=2005-06-29 | date=2005-06-29}}</ref> Originally housed in the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]], TSA was transferred to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] as a result of the [[Homeland Security Act]] of [[2002]].
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Sensitive Security Information (SSI) is a specific category of sensitive but unclassified (SBU) information. In response to increasing threats against aviation security, including hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s, Congress required the FAA to create SSI to safeguard information that would be detrimental to transportation security if publicly released. The FAA issued the first SSI regulation (49 CFR part 1520) in December 1976.




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According to TSA officials, SSI designated information is created by TSA and by airports, aircraft operators, and other regulated parties when they are establishing or implementing security programs or documentation to address security requirements. Information that is designated SSI can be shared with those who have a need to know in order to participate in or oversee the protection of the U.S. transportation system. Those with a need to know can include persons outside of TSA, such as airport operators, aircraft operators, foreign vessel owners, and other persons. SSI cannot be shared with the general public, and it is exempt from disclosure under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]].
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In the aftermath of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the [[Transportation Security Administration]] (TSA) was created in the [[United States]] to take responsibility for the security of all modes of transportation. Included in the responsibilities of this new agency was the authority to designate information as '''Sensitive Security Information''' (SSI). <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05677.pdf | title=GAO-05-677 Report on SSI | work=[http://www.gao.gov/ The U.S Government Accountability Office] | accessdate=2005-06-29 | date=2005-06-29}}</ref> Originally housed in the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]], TSA was transferred to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] as a result of the [[Homeland Security Act]] of [[2002]].




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There are 16 categories of SSI. TSA has distinguished these 16 categories into 3 types of SSI. Four categories are termed "categorical" and automatically designated SSI. Eleven categories require a judgment or analysis to determine if the SSI designation is warranted. One category requires a written determination by an office with determination authority to be deemed SSI. This category is "other information," which is a catchall exemption for information that TSA may wish to designate SSI that does not fit into the other 15 categories.
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SSI is primarily information that would be detrimental to transportation security if publicly released (i.e. information that terrorists could use to plan an attack). The SSI regulation provides 15 specific SSI categroies and a 16th category that provides the TSA administrator the ability to designate additional information as SSI. The 15 categories are:
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1. Security programs and contingency plans.
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2. Security Directives.
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3. Information Circulars.
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4. Performance specifications.
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5. Vulnerability assessments.
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6. Security inspection or investigative information.
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7. Threat information.
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8. Security measures.
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9. Security screening information.
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10. Security training materials.
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11. Identifying information of certain transportation security personnel.
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12. Critical aviation or maritime infrastructure asset information
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13. Systems security information.
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14. Confidential business information.
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15. Research and development.
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The SSI regulation requires that only covered persons with a need to know may have access to SSI. Generally, persons covered by the regulation have a need to know SSI when access to the information is necessary to carry out transportation security activities. Those with a need to know include persons outside of TSA, such as airport operators, airlines, vessel and maritime port owners, and other persons. SSI cannot be shared with the general public, and is exempt from disclosure under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]].





An agency Final Order on SSI can only be challenged in the [[U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals]].
An agency Final Order on SSI can only be challenged in the [[U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals]].

Current revision

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Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (February 2007)

Sensitive Security Information (SSI) is a specific category of sensitive but unclassified (SBU) information. In response to increasing threats against aviation security, including hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s, Congress required the FAA to create SSI to safeguard information that would be detrimental to transportation security if publicly released. The FAA issued the first SSI regulation (49 CFR part 1520) in December 1976.

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the United States to take responsibility for the security of all modes of transportation. Included in the responsibilities of this new agency was the authority to designate information as Sensitive Security Information (SSI). [1] Originally housed in the Department of Transportation, TSA was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

SSI is primarily information that would be detrimental to transportation security if publicly released (i.e. information that terrorists could use to plan an attack). The SSI regulation provides 15 specific SSI categroies and a 16th category that provides the TSA administrator the ability to designate additional information as SSI. The 15 categories are: 1. Security programs and contingency plans. 2. Security Directives. 3. Information Circulars. 4. Performance specifications. 5. Vulnerability assessments. 6. Security inspection or investigative information. 7. Threat information. 8. Security measures. 9. Security screening information. 10. Security training materials. 11. Identifying information of certain transportation security personnel. 12. Critical aviation or maritime infrastructure asset information 13. Systems security information. 14. Confidential business information. 15. Research and development. The SSI regulation requires that only covered persons with a need to know may have access to SSI. Generally, persons covered by the regulation have a need to know SSI when access to the information is necessary to carry out transportation security activities. Those with a need to know include persons outside of TSA, such as airport operators, airlines, vessel and maritime port owners, and other persons. SSI cannot be shared with the general public, and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

An agency Final Order on SSI can only be challenged in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In the case of Chowdhury v. TSA, the ACLU has challenged the TSA's authority to withhold SSI from civil litigants and their attorneys in a Petition for Review pending before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. The ACLU is challenging the TSA's authority on 3 grounds: (1) whether TSA has the requisite statutory authority to withhold SSI from civil litigants and their attorneys, where TSA has determined that such disclosure would be detrimental to transportation security, (2) whether TSA's expert judgment to withhold SSI from civil litigants and their attorneys constitutes "actions committed to agency discretion by law" and (3) whether a TSA Final Order on SSI deprives the Plaintiff in this case of a constitutionally protected property interest without due process of law.

The Second Circuit has yet to rule on this case, after hearing oral argument from the parties in May 2005.


[edit] References

  1. ^ GAO-05-677 Report on SSI. The U.S Government Accountability Office (2005-06-29). Retrieved on 2005-06-29.
 This United States government-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

For Chowdhury v. TSA legal briefs, see, identitycrisis.name/?p=18

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_Security_Information"
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