In information security, the process of being read into a compartmented program generally entails being approved for access to particularly sensitive and restricted information about a classified program, receiving a briefing about the program, and formally acknowledging the briefing, usually by signing a non-disclosure agreement describing restrictions on the handling and use of information concerning the program.[1] Officials with the required security clearance and a need to know may be read into a covert operation or clandestine operation they will be working on.[2] For codeword–classified programs, an official would not be aware a program existed with that codeword until being read in,[3] because the codewords themselves are classified.
The process of being "read into" a compartmented program generally entails being approved for access to particularly sensitive and restricted information about a classified program, receiving a briefing about the program, and formally acknowledging the briefing, usually by signing a nondisclosure agreement describing restrictions on the handling and use of information concerning the program
{{cite report}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
At each step in a career, moving to a new assignment usually means being 'read into' a program, or learning new secrets.
It is true by definition that the classification markings were new to Goldsmith, because the program was codeword-classified. Until an official is "read in," he does not know there is a special access program with that codeword.
This article incorporates public domain material from Unclassified Report on the President's Surveillance Program. United States Government. 10 July 2009.[dead link]