Declassification of documents on the Kennedy assassination – sheds new light on historical events and the impact of technology on historical research

On 19.03.2025 – more than 60 years after the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy – the administration of President Donald Trump declassified and made public thousands of pages of documents related to the event. This decision, which fulfils a promise made by Trump back in January, aims to increase transparency and satisfy the long-standing public interest in this case, which has fascinated and intrigued not only Americans but people all over the world for decades.

The scale of the declassification and its significance

An impressive 80,000 pages from 1,123 different documents have been published on the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration website. This is a huge amount of material that covers a wide range of information related to the Kennedy assassination. The declassified documents include notes, interviews, witness statements and other material, some of which has been partially declassified before, while other material is completely new to the public.

The scale of this declassification is unprecedented and represents an important step towards a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding the assassination. These documents have the potential to shed new light on many aspects of the case that have remained unclear or have been the subject of speculation.

Legal and historical context

The publication of the documents is in accordance with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. This act required the disclosure of all records related to the assassination by 26 October 2017, unless the US president decided otherwise for reasons of national security. Both Trump and Joe Biden before him exercised this right to delay full disclosure of the documents.

The act was a response to growing public interest and numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination. It aimed to provide more transparency and allow researchers and the public access to as much information as possible related to this tragic event.

Expectations and scepticism among experts

Although the release of the documents has attracted a lot of attention, many experts remain sceptical about the possibility of revolutionary discoveries. Numerous experts claim that the new documents may complete the picture of the events, but are unlikely to fundamentally change our understanding of the attack.

This scepticism is due to the fact that much of the key information regarding the assassination has already been revealed, and the main lines of the investigation have been thoroughly examined by numerous commissions and independent researchers. Nevertheless, even minor details contained in the newly declassified documents may help to better understand the context and circumstances of this historical event.

Conspiracy theories and controversies

The Kennedy assassination has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories for years. Many people, including some members of the Kennedy family, question the official version of events. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the assassinated president, has expressed controversial views suggesting the CIA’s involvement in his uncle’s death. Such a position, although not officially confirmed, shows how deeply rooted the doubts about the official version of events are.

Conspiracy theories range from suggestions of mafia involvement, to theories of Cuban agents, to speculation of an internal US government conspiracy. The declassification of the new documents has the potential to confirm or refute some of these theories, but it is equally likely to provide new material for further speculation.

Significance for history and law

The declassification of the documents is of great importance, not only historically but also legally. It shows the importance of the balance between national security and the public’s right to information. The process also emphasises the role of the law in shaping historical narratives and ensuring transparency in government actions.

From a legal perspective, the declassification of these documents sets an important precedent for access to public information. It shows that even in matters of the utmost state importance, there is a possibility and a need to disclose information to the public, even if the process can take many years.

The declassification of such a large number of documents is also of great importance to historical researchers. Historians and analysts will now have access to new sources that can help verify existing theories or formulate new hypotheses about the Kennedy assassination.

What is the process of declassifying classified information in the EU?

And what about the declassification of information in the EU? The legal context for the protection of classified information in the European Union is complex and involves a number of regulations at both EU and national level. The key legal act in this area is Council Decision 2013/488/EU, which sets out the principles and minimum security standards for the protection of EU classified information. This information is divided into four categories: TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET, SECRET UE/EU SECRET, CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL and RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED, each with a specific level of protection and access restrictions. This decision forms the basis for the protection of classified information in the EU, including the procedures for declassifying documents, which are regulated by various EU institutions, such as the Council of the EU, which has its own procedures for declassifying historical archives.

Regarding access to documents of EU institutions, Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (principle of openness) requires transparency of the EU institutions’ work and access to their documents. The specific provisions governing this access are contained in Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001, which refers to the documents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. However, there is a clear tension between the principle of transparency and the need to protect classified information. Within this balance, EU institutions must strictly adhere to security rules while ensuring citizens’ access to documents, as long as it does not jeopardise the security or interests of the EU. These regulations are overseen by institutions such as the European Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor, who monitor compliance with regulations on the protection of classified information.

Although each EU member state has its own regulations on the protection of classified information, they must comply with the general principles set out by the EU, especially in the context of the exchange of information between member states and EU institutions. At the same time, the issue of declassifying documents, especially in the context of political decisions or court rulings, is often a source of controversy.

Recently, EU institutions have been criticised more and more often for excessive classification of information, which can limit transparency and citizens’ access to public information. An example of this is the current debate on declassifying documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

This action has sparked numerous discussions around the world about the role of document declassification in a historical and political context, which also relates to the European Union’s practices in the protection of classified documents.

AI technologies in historical research

Modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), play a key role in analysing and discovering new information contained in documents. Thanks to advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, researchers can quickly search huge collections of documents for key information. AI helps analyse text and identify patterns and relationships that could otherwise escape human researchers.

Network analysis is another application of AI technology that can provide new insights. Social network analysis tools allow the relationships between people, places and events mentioned in documents to be mapped. This can help to uncover previously unknown connections or to confirm existing theories about the people involved in the attack.

Furthermore, advanced data visualisation techniques make it possible to present complex information in a more accessible form, facilitating the analysis of connections, chronology of events and historical context. These innovative methods can help researchers better understand how the different elements related to the Kennedy assassination form a holistic picture of this key event in US history.

In the context of these new documents, technologies, including AI, provide invaluable support to researchers. Thanks to text and network analysis tools, it is possible to quickly reach key information that would be difficult to extract in the traditional way. Artificial intelligence allows for the analysis of huge data sets, which significantly speeds up the process of discovering new facts and drawing conclusions.

The role of new technologies in document analysis

Modern technologies play a key role in the analysis of such large amounts of data. Artificial intelligence and advanced text analysis algorithms can significantly speed up the process of reviewing and categorising information contained in declassified documents.

AI technologies in the service of history help to search thousands of pages faster for key words, phrases or patterns. Network analysis can help to map relationships between different people and events. These tools can also enable advanced data visualisation, making it easier to understand complex connections in documents.

Summary

The declassification of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy marks an important moment in the history of the United States and global historical research. Although it will take researchers a long time to fully analyse the declassified documents, their very disclosure is an important step towards a fuller understanding of one of the most tragic and controversial events in US history.

Regardless of whether or not they yield groundbreaking discoveries, they will certainly contribute to the ongoing discussion about the role of transparency in a democratic society and the importance of access to information in shaping our understanding of history. At the same time, the use of modern technology in the analysis of these documents shows how contemporary tools can help in the study and interpretation of past events.