The U.S. military and intelligence agencies use three categories to distinguish the different types of propaganda and how they are implemented.

First is called "white" propaganda. White propaganda consists of opinion or fact that is broadcast to a foreign audience that the U.S. is willing to take responsibility for. That doesn't mean it always does. Sometimes there is no attribution, but if it becomes known that the information comes from the U.S., there is no need for denial.

"Grey" propaganda is propaganda that is not to be attributed to the U.S. It consists of disinformation or opinions from which the government needs to disassociate itself. This type of propaganda is normally spread through third parties, disguised as the having originated elsewhere. Former CIA Station Chief Harry Rositzke, in The CIA's Secret Operations: Espionage, Counterespionage and Covert Action, described the agency's clandestine propaganda program in the developing world:

Covert propaganda operations in the third world were, in effect, a fight for the media, a fight to counter the rapid progress being made by the Soviet regime in influencing the press, propaganda and education ministries, student and labor union journals, etc. Foreign editors and columnists were recruited, newspapers and magazines subsidized, press services supported. Propagandists ranged form paid `agents' to friendly collaborators, from liberal and socialist anti-Communists to simple right-wingers. Facts, themes, editorial outlines, model essays were sent out to third world stations to be reworked for local consumption.

In these cases, measures were taken to ensure "plausible deniability" in the event the activites were traced back to the C.I.A. This not only served to distance U.S. officials from the false reports; it also protected the credibility of the publications being used to distribute information.

The third category, "black" propaganda, is the most furtive and deceptive of all. As part of U.S. covert activites abroad, this kind of propaganda is designed to influence politics and events in other countries in ways that are concealed.

Essentially "black propaganda" is subversive propaganda. Like the false flag operation, this kind of propaganda is attributed to the enemy itself and is a form of sabotage. As such, it is the most protected of propaganda operations and the consequences of leaks would be considerable.