Defense ("D") notices
Defense ("D") notices are formal requests issued by the British government to the media to refrain from publishing specific information that could compromise national security. Established after the Official Secrets Act of 1911, the D-Notice system was created to guide the press on what types of information might be sensitive, particularly concerning military and intelligence activities. The system is managed by a committee that includes government officials and representatives from the press, promoting a collaborative approach to national security. There are twelve main categories of D-Notices that address various topics, such as espionage and internal security measures. Although these notices provide a framework for protecting sensitive information, their effectiveness has been questioned, especially in the context of declining public trust in government transparency. Compliance with D-Notices has diminished since World War II, leading to ongoing discussions about the balance between national security and public awareness. Understanding the purpose and implications of D-Notices is crucial for those interested in the intersection of media, government, and national security.
Defense ("D") notices
Definition: A system of censorship of the British press based on an agreement between military officials and press representatives
Significance: The D-Notice system was designed to clarify for the British press what information could be published without fear of prosecution under the Official Secrets Act of 1911
Following the enactment of the Official Secrets Act in 1911 and its broad sweep of restrictions, the British government was in a position of having to clarify for the British press what published information might be considered to pose a threat to national security. Thus was formed the Services, Press and Broadcasting Committee, consisting of sixteen members: five top government officials and eleven press and broadcasting representatives. This committee developed the D-Notice system, which alleviated for the press the fear of prosecution and offered assurance to the government that technical and strategic information would not be disclosed. The twelve D-Notices were distributed to newspaper editors and covered a range of spying, internal security, and military activities.
Although the protections the system offers are apparent during wartime, it is questionable whether these protections are not outweighed by the general public’s mistrust of the British government that results from the secrecy surrounding the system. Compliance with the system has steadily declined since World War II.