Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation, whether
they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential and used
exclusively for statistical purposes.
Reliable official statistics depend on public co-operation and goodwill to provide
accurate and timely information requested in surveys. Such co-operation and goodwill
is maintained by protecting the
of information provided by respondents.
Key aspects of confidentiality protection are maintaining information securely, avoiding
release of identifiable information in statistical outputs, managing
access to microdata
for statistical research, and ensuring that individual information is used solely for
statistical purposes. Without such co-operation, response rates can be too low and threaten
the accuracy of the statistics, or legal enforcement may be required. In many countries,
the requirements for protecting confidentiality and restrictions on use of individual data
are set out in