Restrictions on the distribution of confidential government information
Name(s):
Inaccessible government information services
Nature
The restriction of confidential government information to a closed circle of people can lead to unnecessary, wasteful and expensive duplication of research, or to corruption or espionage which is all the more difficult to detect because so few know the nature of the information being abused.
Background
In 1943 the British Admiralty was using a newly discovered technique to increase the effectiveness of explosives, and the Ministry of Home Security knew of increased power. However, the secrecy surrounding the technique was so great that the Air Ministry was unaware of it and was thus using less effective explosives.
Broader
Narrower
Aggravates
Aggravated by
Value(s)
Type
(D) Detailed problems