A nature-inspired camouflaging approach to protect nuclear secrets

Abstract

Nuclear weapons laboratories face a frequent challenge when they have to grant access to classified information (secrets) on a need-to-know (NTK) basis. Currently such access decisions are subjective – leading to risks of releasing classified information to non-deserving information-seekers. This paper suggests a nature-inspired simulation model ‘Discerning Nuclear Intentions (DiNI)–NTK’ based on the phenomenon of camouflaging (mimicry) in order to lend objectivity to NTK decision-making. The model uses a combination of information vulnerability and characteristics – factors that help assess possible ‘camouflaging’ intentions of the information-seeker and then accordingly make an informed NTK decision. Based on a live indictment of a nuclear physicist and his wife who were formerly employed in a nuclear weapons laboratory, DiNI–NTK is tested with estimated parameter values and the output of the model has provided the correct non-disclosure decision. This model can be used to inform NTK-based classified information access decisions in an objective manner.