transparency Overview

In 2013, President Obama directed the Intelligence 

Community (IC) to make public as much information 

as possible about its surveillance programs, with the 

goal of enhancing transparency. The strategic effort 

was launched with the goal of earning and retaining 

public trust. In keeping with this goal, the Office of the 

Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) directed an 

interagency effort, resulting in the 2015 publication 

of the “Principles of Intelligence Transparency for the 

Intelligence Community” and their corresponding 

implementation plan.

These principles are intended to guide IC decisions 

as it makes every effort to increase transparency and 

openness, while protecting classified and sensitive 

national security information, and intelligence sources 

and methods from unauthorized disclosure. 

principles of transparenc

 There are four Principles:

• Provide appropriate transparency to enhance public understanding of the IC 

• Be proactive and clear in making information publicly available 

• Protect information about intelligence sources, 

methods, and activities 

• Align IC roles, resources, processes, and policies to 

support transparency implementation

To be transparent, as provided by the Principles, the IC 

must institutionalize a strategic, coordinated, and proactive approach to inform and enhance the public’s understanding of the IC, its activities, and its governance 

framework. Transparency includes not only sharing 

information about the rules that apply to the IC and its 

compliance under those rules, but also sharing information about what the IC actually does in pursuit of its 

national security mission.

Transparency efforts must first be guided by the vital 

responsibility the IC has to protect intelligence sources, 

methods, and activities from unauthorized disclosure. The IC can only be effective at protecting against 

threats if intelligence sources, methods, and activities 

remain unknown to our adversaries. Because informing the public inevitably includes the unintended consequence of informing thenation’s adversaries as well, 

the IC must find a way to enhance transparency while 

continuing to preserve the nation’s secrets.

Intelligence transparency counc

 In October 2015, Director of National Intelligence 

James R. Clapper designated Alexander W. Joel as the 

Chief Transparency Officer. This role aligned with his 

position as the Civil Liberties Protection Officer, and 

positioned him as the chair of the newly formed Intelligence Transparency Council.

The Council meets twice quarterly and is composed 

of representatives from across the IC. It is responsible 

for overseeing the Transparency Implementation Plan 

and ensuring that transparency is a comprehensive and 

sustainable part of the IC.

transparency Fact sheet

ODNI Office of civil liberties, privacy and t

transparency Highligh

• Increased transparency is vital to earning and 

maintaining the public’s trust

• The four Principles are intended to guide IC 

decisions on making information publicly available so that public understanding of intelligence 

activities is enhanced, while also protecting 

national security