Final answer:
Government information is classified by authorized individuals based on the potential impact on national security. The Freedom of Information Act regulates transparency and access to federal records, with exemptions for classified information. Classification levels are determined by government policies and executive orders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Who designates whether information is classified, and what determines its classification level? In the context of government information, classification decisions are typically made by authorized individuals within government bodies who have original classification authority. The level of classification—be it Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret—is determined by the potential impact on national security if the information were disclosed. Information is classified to protect it from unauthorized disclosure, which could potentially harm national interests, individual privacy, or the safety of citizens. Classification standards are guided by government policies and legal frameworks, such as executive orders in the United States.
For example, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) plays a key role in regulating government transparency and the public's right to access federal records, with certain exemptions to protect classified information. However, it can be recognized that there may be variations in interpretation of what is necessary to be classified and how stringent that classification should be.