Secrecy

Secrecy: The Art of Hiding in Plain Sight

Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the ‘need to know’. Secrecy can exist in different ways, including encoding or encryption, true secrecy through security classification, and obfuscation. There are three systems of secrecy within communication: concealment, privacy, and true secrecy.

Imagine a world where every piece of information is freely shared; it would be chaotic, right? That’s why secrecy exists – to maintain order and control over knowledge. But how does this practice play out in our daily lives?

The Many Faces of Secrecy

Secrecy can take many forms, including encoding, encryption, steganography, concealment systems, privacy systems, and true secrecy systems. The three systems of secrecy are:

• Concealment systems, which hide the existence of the message
• Privacy systems, which require special equipment to recover the message
• True secrecy systems, where the meaning of the message is concealed by a cipher or code

Secrecy in Everyday Life and Beyond

Humans, animals, governments – everyone practices secrecy. Think about it: why do you hide certain aspects of yourself? Is it because of shame, fear, or other reasons? Families maintain ‘family secrets’ using agreed-upon constructs and coercion. Keeping one’s strategy secret is important in game theory, and secret sharing is a way for people to establish traditional relations.

Government Secrecy: A Double-Edged Sword

Secrecy can be controversial and can conflict with virtues of privacy and confidentiality. Governments attempt to conceal information from other governments and the public, and many nations have Official Secrets Acts to classify material according to its level of protection. Few people dispute the desirability of keeping critical nuclear weapon design information secret, but many believe government secrecy is excessive and used for political purposes.

Secrecy in Organizations

Organizations, including corporations and nonprofits, keep secrets for competitive advantage, legal requirements, or to conceal nefarious behavior. Research has studied the factors supporting corporate secrecy, including cartels and the patent system. Secret societies use secrecy to attract members, and shell companies may be used to launder money or evade taxes.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Laws require organizations to keep certain information secret, such as medical records and financial reports. Preservation of secrets is a goal of information security, using techniques like physical security and cryptography. Information hiding is a design principle in software engineering to verify reliability.

Military Secrecy: A Matter of National Security

Military secrecy conceals information about martial affairs to gain an advantage or avoid embarrassment. Most military secrets are tactical in nature, such as weapon systems and tactics, or involve broader areas like secure communications and intelligence operations. US government rights to military secrecy were upheld by the Supreme Court in 1953.

The Dangers of Excessive Secrecy

Excessive secrecy can lead to human conflict due to the need to lie or reveal information. Ancient Greeks believed that truth was hard to keep hidden, with Sophocles saying ‘Do nothing secretly; for Time sees and hears all things’ and Gautama Siddhartha stating ‘Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.’

Secrecy is a complex practice that plays out in various forms across different contexts. While it can be essential for maintaining order and control over knowledge, it also carries risks of conflict and misuse. As we navigate our increasingly interconnected world, understanding the role of secrecy becomes more crucial than ever.