Federal · Title 7 — Agriculture

7 U.S.C. § 472: Information furnished of confidential character; penalty for divulging information

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A Department of Agriculture employee who publishes or communicates confidential information obtained through employment without written authorization from the Secretary commits a misdemeanor punishable by fine and/or imprisonment up to one year.

Read the full statutory text

The information furnished by any individual establishment under the provisions of this chapter shall be considered as strictly confidential and shall be used only for the statistical purpose for which it is supplied. Any employee of the Department of Agriculture who, without the written authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall publish or communicate any information given into his possession by reason of his employment under the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $300 or more than $1,000, or imprisoned for a period of not exceeding one year, or both so fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.