Abstract: Currently, there is certain tension between the concept of transparency of state administration and the need for protection of socially important information. The article examines which types of information are protected by the government for the reasons of national security, as well as which arguments are used in this regard. As a results of studying national strategies in the area of information security, it becomes clear that the governments seek to restrict the information flows due to various reason, which at times do no align with the type of political regime in the country. Content analysis of the Russian and foreign legislative acts is provided. The research results testify to the fact that the democracies alongside authoritarian countries may restricts same types of information problems. The policy and political decision depend on multiple actors, as well who has most influence at the moment, which most often leads to gradual changes in the state information policy and mechanisms of its implementation.