Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told audience at the Intelligence & National Security Summit held Wednesday in Washington that intelligence agencies must act responsibly when they disclose information to the public.
“Transparency is an institutional responsibility for the IC as an enterprise,” Clapper said in his remarks published Wednesday on the Office of the DNI’s website.
He noted that IC’s objectives are to help people understand its mission, use a proactive approach to make data publicly available, secure intelligence operations and align IC functions and policies with transparency programs.
Intelligence agencies have given the public access to more than 5,000 pages of declassified documents regarding their activities and government oversight of those assignments over the past two years, according to Clapper.
“As we’ve pushed forward with transparency initiatives, we’ve been able to help with tragedies and natural disasters around the world.”