Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982

Citation
Intelligence Identities and Protection Act of 1982, codified at 50 U.S.C. §§421-26.

Overview
The Act provides for the protection of information concerning the identity of covert intelligence agents.69 It generally covers persons authorized to know the identity of such agents or who learn the identity of covert agents as a result of their general access to classified information,70 but can also apply to a person who learns of the identity of a covert agent through a "pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents" and discloses the identity to any individual not authorized access to classified information, with reason to believe that such activities would impair U.S. foreign intelligence efforts.

This crime is subject to a fine or imprisonment for a term of not more than three years. To be convicted, a violator must have knowledge that the information identifies a covert agent whose identity the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal. To date, there have been no reported cases interpreting the statute, but it did result in one conviction pursuant to a guilty plea.71