[antiRepublicrat]

Those with security clearances know that they are supposed to abide by “need to know.” Even if they have access to classified information, they are not supposed to read it unless they have a legitimate need to know it. Classified systems are not for nosy people. That the information has been published does not remove its status as classified information, thus those with security clearances are expected to not read any of it.

There’s no constitutional issue involved for these people. They volunteered to abide by the security regulations in order to get their jobs. I don’t think hearing a headline containing some of it on the radio would lose somebody his job. However, downloading it from WikiLeaks would probably get someone in trouble. He just knowingly placed classified material onto his home computer, something that is highly frowned upon.

[Terabitten]

I don’t think hearing a headline containing some of it on the radio would lose somebody his job. However, downloading it from WikiLeaks would probably get someone in trouble. He just knowingly placed classified material onto his home computer, something that is highly frowned upon.

Exactly. The material is still classified (even though the classification is pointless), and so all the laws regarding handling classified information still apply. That's really all there is to it.

[An Old Man]

OK, that's one vote to "hang them from a yard arm".

Now what about the rest of the people who have access to them?

[r9etb]

Ah, ya party-pooper. What kind of silly person would actually take his or her security clearance seriously?

[Tublecane]

“Classified systems are not for nosy people.”

I guess only “nosy people” search the internet, read newspapers, and watch tv news.

Your post’s insane legalism is the very reason Kafka’s “The Trial” exists.