Why would physical copies of classified documents need to be retained when high speed scanners can create digital copies that are much easier to hide?
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I’ve only skimmed through a handful of comments, but so far it seems like most folks aren’t familiar with information security within the federal government.
Virtually all classified information is created and stored digitally. There is a six step process of planning, collection, processing, analysis, reporting, and feedback. Basically, you get some info from a classified source, or you use a classified method to collect unclassified sources.
Depending on the source (human vs digital), the process may begin physical, but at some point the processing or analysis will take place on a computer. Although there are exceptions for facilities in the field, these computers must be on a secure network, in a secure facility.
Now, how do you report the finished product to decision makers (higher ups)? There are two common practices. First, you could publish your report on a secure feed. Someone logs in, prints off your report, and gives it to the decision maker in the room where they are allowed to read classified material. Or, the decision maker watches a video presentation, where you control the source of the video feed. Power points are common here.
In the end, there are A LOT of printed reports. At my office, we’d fill several binders every morning, then shred them later. Lots and lots of shredding. If someone accidentally walks out with on of those papers then bam, that’s a massive security infraction.
Why would you store the paper reports? Maybe you’re working on a long-term project and need to keep referencing old reports. Maybe, when it comes to nuclear capabilities, you need access to the info immediately (honestly I have no idea in the instance).
But really, it comes down to elected officials and their appointees. These folks have no idea what they’re doing. They get the same mandated, repeat trainings on information security. Then, they get a report that’s interesting, and they tell their staff to file it away. Even though it’s supposed to be shredded within 30 days. Even though their facilities isn’t supposed to hold classified information overnight unattended. Or, the decision maker demands that the security specialists file away copies of their daily intel report even though that creates an unnecessary security risk. Or, security standards are different for the White House, Idfk tbh and most folks probably don’t either.
TLDR/to actually answer your question: it’s not an issue involving scanners. The reports originated on a secure network, and were printed out for either immediate access, or for future reference. Could be for a lot of reasons why Trump had access to so many classified paper documents, but likely incompetence at some level.
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