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US Intelligence Chief Bars Employees From 'Unauthorized' Media Contacts

© Office of the Director of National IntelligenceUS Director of National Intelligence James Clapper
US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper - Sputnik International
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US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper banned employees of secret services from talking to the media without a special permit, FOX News reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper banned employees of secret services from talking to the media without a special permit, FOX News reported Tuesday.

"[Intelligence community] employees must obtain authorization for contacts with the media on covered matters through the office responsible for public affairs and must also report to that office unplanned or unintentional contact with the media on covered matters," the memo quoted by the channel says.

The document came into focus on Monday after a non-profit Federation of American Scientists, working on a Government Secrecyproject, took note of it.

Clapper's office responded Monday by issuing a statement which said the memo did not run counter to President Barack Obama's new intelligence policy.

"The [intelligence community directive] affirms that the intelligence community is committed to sharing information responsibly with the public via the media to further government transparency and to build public understanding of the intelligence community and its programs, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods," the statement read.

President Obama introduced a new intelligence policy after the revelations made by whistleblower Edward Snowden last year. Documents leaked by former NSA contractor uncovered a major espionage program under which the US intelligence spied on millions of Americans and world leaders, including Germany's Angela Merkel.

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