Which statement best differentiates public information from non-public information in inquiries?

Which statement best differentiates public information from non-public information in inquiries?

• A. Public information can be disclosed to anyone; non-public requires authorization or is restricted.
• B. Public information requires authorization; non-public can be shared freely.
• C. All information is public unless it contains PII.
• D. Non-public information can be shared with colleagues.

Answer: (A)

Public information is meant to be shared openly and can be disclosed to anyone without risking privacy or security. Non-public information includes data that could cause harm or violate privacy if released—such as personal data, confidential business information, internal policies, or sensitive customer details—and it must be protected and shared only with people who have explicit authorization or a legitimate need to know. So the statement that best differentiates them is that public information can be disclosed to anyone, while non-public information requires authorization or is restricted. For example, a publicly posted product brochure can be shared widely, whereas a customer’s account details should not be shared outside approved access. The other options either imply public information needs authorization, or claim all information is public unless it contains PII, or say non-public can be shared with colleagues without proper authorization.