eyes only

A marking that limits the circle of people allowed to read a classified document.

The CIA glossary uses the English term eyes only for a marking that limits the circle of people allowed to read a classified document. The International Spy Museum describes such documents as intended for one specified person only.^1,2

The marking is a specific application of the general need-to-know principle: the CIA glossary defines compartmentalisation as limiting information to the people who need it for their work. It is not a separate security classification – in Poland the law recognises four classifications (“ściśle tajne” – top secret, “tajne” – secret, “poufne” – confidential, “zastrzeżone” – restricted), and access to classified information also requires that it be necessary for the performance of one's work or service (Article 4(1) of the Act on the Protection of Classified Information).^1,3