§ 700.1121 - Disclosure, publication and security of official information.

§ 700.1121 Disclosure, publication and security of official information.

(a) No person in the Department of the Navy shall convey or disclose by oral or written communications, publication, graphic (including photographic) or other means, any classified information except as provided in directives governing the release of such information. Additionally, no person in the Department of the Navy shall communicate or otherwise deal with foreign entities, even on an unclassified basis, when this would commit the Department of the Navy to disclose classified military information except as may be required in that person's official duties and only after coordination with and approval by a release authority designated by competent authority.

(b) No person in the Department of the Navy shall convey or disclose by oral or written communication, publication or other means except as may be required by his or her official duties, any information concerning the Department of Defense or forces, or any person, thing, plan or measure pertaining thereto, where such information might be of possible assistance to a foreign power; nor shall any person in the Department of the Navy make any public speech or permit publication of an article written by or for that person which is prejudicial to the interests of the United States. The regulations concerned with the release of information to the public through any media will be as prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy.

(c) No person in the Department of the Navy shall disclose any information whatever, whether classified or unclassified, or whether obtained from official records or within the knowledge of the relator, which might aid or be of assistance in the prosecution or support of any claim against the United States. The prohibitions prescribed by the first sentence of this paragraph are not applicable to an officer or employee of the United States who is acting in the proper course of, and within the scope of, his or her official duties, provided that the disclosure of such information is otherwise authorized by stature, Executive Order of the President or departmental regulation.

(d) Any person in the Department of the Navy receiving a request from the public for Department of the Navy records shall be governed by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and implementing directives issued by the Secretary of the Navy.

(e) Persons in the Department of the Navy desiring to submit manuscripts to commercial publishers on professional, political or international subjects shall comply with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Navy.

(f) No persons in the naval service on active duty or civilian employee of the Department of the Navy shall act as correspondent of a news service or periodical, or as a television or radio news commentator or analyst, unless assigned to such duty in connection with the public affairs activities of the Department of the Navy, or authorized by the Secretary of the Navy. Except as authorized by the Secretary of the Navy, no person assigned to duty in connection with public affairs activities of the Department of the Navy shall receive any compensation for acting as such correspondent, commentator or analyst.