Which classification denotes information that could be damaging to national security?

The classification that denotes information that could be damaging to national security is "Confidential." Information marked as Confidential pertains to data that, if disclosed, could potentially cause harm to national security interests, but does not reach the higher threshold of sensitivity found in the "Secret" or "Top Secret" classifications.

To understand the hierarchy of classifications:

• "Confidential" is the lowest classification in the context of national security but still signifies that the information is sensitive and requires protection. The unauthorized disclosure of Confidential information could reasonably be expected to cause identifiable damage to national security.

• "Secret" indicates that unauthorized disclosure of this information could cause serious damage to national security, which raises the level of sensitivity compared to Confidential.

• "Top Secret" reflects the highest level of classification, where unauthorized disclosure could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security, indicating an even stricter level of control and handling.

• "Restricted" is not typically aligned within the national security classification scheme in the same manner and generally refers to information that needs to be limited in distribution but may not necessarily pose a direct threat to national security.

Recognizing these distinctions helps clarify why "Confidential" is appropriately classified as information that could be damaging to national security.