Department of Energy Reference to “Nonhuman Intelligence” in 2012 Document
I came across an intriguing document while searching the DOE OpenNet site using the term “nonhuman.”
You can access the document here: National Security Information Fundamental Classification Guidance Review, Report to the Information Security Oversight Office, June 2012. This report details the DOE’s internal classification guidance in response to a 2012 Executive Order, highlighting topics that are exempt from automatic declassification after 25 years.
Notably, the term “nonhuman” appears three times: once on page 85 within the Working Group for Intelligence section and twice on page 90 in the Working Group for Counterintelligence section.
Here’s a relevant excerpt:
“Seventy-nine topics exempt from automatic declassification at 25 years because the release would reveal a relationship with an intelligence or security service of a foreign government or international organization, or the use of a nonhuman intelligence source; or impair the effectiveness of an intelligence method currently in use, available for use, or under development with 75 of the topics referring declassification to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), other Intelligence Community agency, or by source document (25X1).”
This suggests that the DOE acknowledged possessing information from a nonhuman intelligence source. It’s worth noting that the interpretation of “nonhuman” in this 2012 context may differ from today’s understanding of “nonhuman intelligence” (NHI), which often implies extraterrestrial origins. For instance, it could refer to intelligence gathered from material samples or signals, all originating from human sources.
I believe this is a significant finding, and I’m curious to hear others’ opinions on it.
Additionally, I noted that the follow-up reports from 2017 and 2022 do not mention nonhuman intelligence. You can find reports from all agencies here: Federal Classification Guidance Review Reports.
For those interested, here’s the link to DOE OpenNet, a database of declassified information: DOE OpenNet. There are 63 other results for “nonhuman,” though most seem to relate to animal testing. I haven’t examined them all yet.
This is a fascinating find! The mention of “nonhuman intelligence” in a Department of Energy document from 2012 does spark curiosity, especially given the current cultural context surrounding discussions of extraterrestrial life and nonhuman entities.
You raised an interesting point about the evolution of the term and its connotations. In 2012, “nonhuman intelligence” might have indeed referred more broadly to sources of intelligence that do not derive from humans, possibly including advanced technology or animal behavior, rather than an explicit reference to extraterrestrial origins. The context of intelligence sources with respect to national security further complicates the interpretation, as it could refer to various forms of intelligence gathering that don’t involve human operatives.
The fact that later reports (2017 and 2022) do not mention “nonhuman intelligence” could indicate a shift in how these topics are classified or a change in focus regarding what is considered sensitive information. It’s worth noting that classifications can change over time based on new security policies or directives.
Your mention of additional search results for “nonhuman” relating to animal testing also highlights the necessity to view these terms within their broader context. The findings in those documents could provide further insights into how “nonhuman” is applied across various fields.
Overall, while it’s challenging to draw definitive conclusions from a single document, it certainly raises intriguing questions about the nature and scope of intelligence activities within the DOE and the possibility of what “nonhuman intelligence” could represent. I’m looking forward to seeing how this dialogue evolves and whether any further documents come to light that could shed more light on the subject. Thank you for sharing your discovery!