The Administration and Congress must provide sustained leadership on information sharing, recognizing that developing an effective information sharing framework is the single most important step America's leaders can take to improve the national security of the United States.
The goal is not just better or more information sharing, but establishing a collaborative environment with a clear purpose: to ensure that those who need it have access to the best information in a timely manner, and under the appropriate conditions to enable the most informed decisions.
The Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age has identified the following key areas for attention and action.
Privacy
In the fight against terrorism, we must deploy 21st century solutions that protect America's most traditional values: civil liberties and privacy. An information sharing framework succeeds only if Americans trust it will respect their privacy and protect civil liberties.
Read Privacy and Civil Liberties: Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties in a Networked Information Sharing Environment (PDF 119K)
Discoverability
Discoverability is the first step in an effective system for information sharing, offering users the ability to 'discover' data that exists elsewhere without gaining access to the underlying information until the user requesting access is authorized and authenticated. A system of discoverability also avoids the bulk transfers of data required in large centralized databases, improving security and minimizing privacy risks.
Read Discoverability: Improve Information Sharing, Create a Trusted System, Facilitate Access to Critical Data (PDF 116K)
Authorized Use
A mission-based authorized use standard would mean decisions on information sharing are based on how the information will be used rather than on where the information was collected or to whom it pertains. Authorized uses are mission- or threat-based permissions to access or share information for a particular, clearly identified purpose that the government—with public scrutiny—has determined beforehand to be appropriate and lawfully permissible.
Read Authorized Use: An Authorized Use Standard for Information Sharing Strengthens National Security and Respects Civil Liberties (PDF 130K)
See also the Quick Reference document on Authorized Use (PDF 127K)
Culture Change
Creating an information sharing network requires changes in how people think and make decisions. A networked environment that truly facilitates information sharing is a combination of people, processes, policies and cultures that leverages advances in information technology and the best thinking about how to mobilize information to improve decision-making and policy implementation across the government.
Read Culture Change: New Thinking on Information Sharing Critical to Strengthening National Security (PDF 134K)
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