32 CFR § 2103.12 - Level of original classification.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t32/s2103.12"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "32 CFR § 2103.12 - Level of original classification."
title_number: 32
title_name: "National Defense"
section_number: "2103.12"
section_name: "Level of original classification."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL"
part_number: "2103"
part_name: "REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT E.O. 12065—INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE DECLASSIFIED"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "E.O. 12065 and Information Security Oversight Office Directive No. 1."
regulatory_source: "44 FR 2384, Jan. 11, 1979, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "2103"
---


# 2103.12 Level of original classification.

Unnecessary classification, and classification at a level higher than is necessary, shall be avoided. If there is reasonable doubt as to which designation in section 1-1 of Executive Order 12065 is appropriate, or whether information should be classified at all, the less restrictive designation should be used, or the information should not be classified.