Use and Disclosure Limit

"Use and Disclosure Limit" refers to the principle that personally identifiable information, after it is first collected, should be used and shared only for the purpose for which it was collected. If the information is to be used or shared for some other purpose, the individual to whom the information pertains individuals should be given notice and her consent should be obtained.

Generally, government officials are prohibited from disclosing personally identifiable information outside the government without the permission of the person to whom the individual pertains. Within the government, use and disclosure is permitted for purposes "compatible" with the purpose for which the data was initially obtained.