No Foreign Nationals (NOFORN)
NOFORN blocks classified info from all foreign nationals, governments, or entities, regardless of their citizenship or alliance status. It's a specific restriction, not just general secrecy, and applies universally to non-U.S. persons.
NOFORN is a U.S. classification marking that prohibits the dissemination of classified information to any foreign government, foreign national, or foreign entity, regardless oftheir citizenship or alliance status. It is used to safeguard sensitive data where foreign access could compromise national security, and it applies universally to all non-U.S. persons, including those from allied nations. The marking is distinct from general secrecy classifications and is strictly enforced under U.S. security directives.
What this means in real life
A military intelligence report about weapons capabilities might be marked Secret//NOFORN, meaning even allied nations' intelligence officers cannot access it—only cleared U.S. citizens can read it.
What it isn’t
It is not a classification level itself; it is a handling restriction added to existing classified material. NOFORN does not mean the information is more highly classified than material without it—it simply limits who can access it.
Commonly misused online
People sometimes treat NOFORN as synonymous with 'Top Secret' or assume it marks the most sensitive information. In reality, it can apply to Secret or even lower classifications; it controls distribution, not sensitivity level.