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Intelligence staff banned from citing leaked material

A recent policy instruction from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper now bans intelligence employees or contractors from citing news reports based on unauthorized disclosures.

Current and former employees "must not use sourcing that comes from known leaks, or unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information," the instruction states. "The use of such information in publication can confirm the validity of an unauthorized disclosure and cause further harm to national security. ODNI personnel are not authorized to use anonymous sourcing."

The policy was updated last month, but highlighted on Thursday by the Federation of American Scientists and the Project on Government Secrecy.

In addition to not sourcing leaks, all current and former employees are required to obtain authorization before disclosing any intelligence-related information to the public . Though a similar policy has been in place, the new instruction goes broader to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of information, classified or not.

The Instruction also requires approval prior to an employee's participation in “open discussion venues such as forums, panels, round tables, and question and answer sessions.”

This latest instruction falls in line with one issued last month, which prohibits employees of certain government agencies from discussing any intelligence-related matter with the media, classified or not. The directives are part of a broader move by the government to clamp down on internal leaks by the likes of Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning and Edward Snowden.