---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 57b–2"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "57b–2"
heading: "Confidentiality"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/57b-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — Federal Trade Commission; Promotion of Export Trade and Prevention of Unfair Methods of Competition"
  - "Subchapter I — Federal Trade Commission"
---

# §57b–2. Confidentiality

- (a) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section:
  - (1) The term “material” means documentary material, tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony.
  - (2) The term “Federal agency” has the meaning given it in section 552(e)[^1] of title 5.
- (b) **Procedures respecting documents, tangible things, or transcripts of oral testimony received pursuant to compulsory process or investigation—**
  - (1) With respect to any document, tangible thing, or transcript of oral testimony received by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) pursuant to compulsory process in an investigation, a purpose of which is to determine whether any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) may have violated any provision of the laws administered by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15), the procedures established in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) through [paragraph (7)](#b-7) shall apply.
  - (2)
    - (A) The [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall designate a duly authorized agent to serve as [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) of documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, or written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony, and such additional duly authorized agents as the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall determine from time to time to be necessary to serve as deputies to the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4).
    - (B) Any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) upon whom any demand for the production of documentary [material](#a-1) has been duly served shall make such [material](#a-1) available for inspection and copying or reproduction to the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) designated in such demand at the principal place of business of such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) (or at such other place as such [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) and such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) thereafter may agree and prescribe in writing or as the court may direct pursuant to [section 57b–1(h) of this title](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=h)) on the return date specified in such demand (or on such later date as such [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) may prescribe in writing). Such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) may upon written [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) between such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) and the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) substitute copies for originals of all or any part of such [material](#a-1).
  - (3)
    - (A) The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) to whom any documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony are delivered shall take physical possession of such [material](#a-1), reports or answers, and transcripts, and shall be responsible for the use made of such [material](#a-1), reports or answers, and transcripts, and for the return of [material](#a-1), pursuant to the requirements of this section.
    - (B) The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) may prepare such copies of the documentary [material](#a-1), written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony, and may make tangible things available, as may be required for official use by any duly authorized officer or employee of the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) under regulations which shall be promulgated by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15). Notwithstanding [subparagraph (C)](#b-3-C), such [material](#a-1), things, and transcripts may be used by any such officer or employee in connection with the taking of oral testimony under this section.
    - (C) Except as otherwise provided in this section, while in the possession of the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4), no documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony shall be available for examination by any individual other than a duly authorized officer or employee of the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) without the consent of the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) who produced the [material](#a-1), things, or transcripts. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent disclosure to either House of the Congress or to any [committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) or subcommittee of the Congress, except that the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) immediately shall notify the owner or provider of any such information of a request for information designated as confidential by the owner or provider.
    - (D) While in the possession of the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) and under such reasonable terms and conditions as the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall prescribe—
      - (i) documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, or written reports shall be available for examination by the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) who produced the [material](#a-1), or by any duly authorized representative of such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E); and
      - (ii) answers to questions in writing and transcripts of oral testimony shall be available for examination by the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) who produced the testimony or by his attorney.
  - (4) Whenever the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) has instituted a proceeding against a [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E), partnership, or corporation, the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) may deliver to any officer or employee of the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony for official use in connection with such proceeding. Upon the completion of the proceeding, the officer or employee shall return to the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) any such [material](#a-1) so delivered which has not been received into the record of the proceeding.
  - (5) If any documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony have been produced in the course of any investigation by any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) pursuant to compulsory process and—
    - (A) any proceeding arising out of the investigation has been completed; or
    - (B) no proceeding in which the [material](#a-1) may be used has been commenced within a reasonable time after completion of the examination and analysis of all such [material](#a-1) and other information assembled in the course of the investigation;

    then the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) shall, upon written request of the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) who produced the [material](#a-1), return to the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) any such [material](#a-1) which has not been received into the record of any such proceeding (other than copies of such [material](#a-1) made by the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) pursuant to [paragraph (3)(B)](#b-3-B)).

  - (6) The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) of any documentary [material](#a-1), written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony may deliver to any officers or employees of appropriate Federal law enforcement agencies, in response to a written request, copies of such [material](#a-1) for use in connection with an investigation or proceeding under the jurisdiction of any such agency. The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) of any tangible things may make such things available for inspection to such [persons](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) on the same basis. Such [materials](#a-1) shall not be made available to any such agency until the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) receives certification of any officer of such agency that such information will be maintained in confidence and will be used only for official law enforcement purposes. Such documentary [material](#a-1), results of inspections of tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony may be used by any officer or employee of such agency only in such manner and subject to such conditions as apply to the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) under this section. The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) may make such [materials](#a-1) available to any [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) law enforcement agency upon the prior certification of any officer of such agency that such information will be maintained in confidence and will be used only for official law enforcement purposes. The [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) may make such [material](#a-1) available to any foreign law enforcement agency upon the prior certification of an appropriate official of any such foreign law enforcement agency, either by a prior [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) or memorandum of understanding with the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) or by other written certification, that such [material](#a-1) will be maintained in confidence and will be used only for official law enforcement purposes, if—
    - (A) the foreign law enforcement agency has set forth a bona fide legal basis for its [authority](/usc/15/3051.md?p=1) to maintain the [material](#a-1) in confidence;
    - (B) the [materials](#a-1) are to be used for purposes of investigating, or engaging in enforcement proceedings related to, possible [violations](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-7) of—
      - (i) foreign laws prohibiting fraudulent or deceptive commercial practices, or other practices substantially similar to practices prohibited by any law administered by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15);
      - (ii) a law administered by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15), if disclosure of the [material](#a-1) would further a [Commission investigation](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-2) or enforcement proceeding; or
      - (iii) with the approval of the Attorney General, other foreign criminal laws, if such foreign criminal laws are offenses defined in or covered by a criminal mutual legal assistance treaty in force between the government of the United States and the foreign law enforcement agency’s government;
    - (C) the appropriate Federal banking agency (as defined in [section 1813(q) of title 12](/usc/12/1813.md?p=q)) or, in the case of a [Federal credit union](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-4), the National [Credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) Union [Administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2), has given its prior approval if the [materials](#a-1) to be provided under [subparagraph (B)](#b-6-B) are requested by the foreign law enforcement agency for the purpose of investigating, or engaging in enforcement proceedings based on, possible [violations](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-7) of law by a [bank](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-2), a [savings and loan institution](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-3) described in [section 57a(f)(3) of this title](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-3), or a [Federal credit union](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-4) described in [section 57a(f)(4) of this title](/usc/15/57a.md?p=f-4); and
    - (D) the foreign law enforcement agency is not from a foreign [state](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) that the Secretary of State has determined, in accordance with [section 4605(j)](/usc/15/4605.md)[^1] of title 50, has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, unless and until such determination is rescinded pursuant to [section 4605(j)(4)](/usc/15/4605.md)[^1] of title 50.

    Nothing in the preceding sentence authorizes the disclosure of [material](#a-1) obtained in connection with the [administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2) of the Federal [antitrust laws](/usc/15/7a–3.md?p=a-3-A) or foreign [antitrust laws](/usc/15/7a–3.md?p=a-3-A) (as defined in paragraphs [(5)](#b-5) and [(7)](#b-7), respectively, of [section 6211 of this title](/usc/15/6211.md)) to any officer or employee of a foreign law enforcement agency.

  - (7) In the event of the death, disability, or separation from service in the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) of the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) of any documentary [material](#a-1), tangible things, written reports or answers to questions, and transcripts of oral testimony produced under any demand issued under this subchapter, or the official relief of the [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) from responsibility for the custody and control of such [material](#a-1), the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) promptly shall—
    - (A) designate under [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A) another duly authorized agent to serve as [custodian](/usc/15/57b–1.md?p=a-4) of such [material](#a-1); and
    - (B) transmit in writing to the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) who produced the [material](#a-1) or testimony notice as to the identity and address of the successor so designated.

    Any successor designated under [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A) as a result of the requirements of this paragraph shall have (with regard to the [material](#a-1) involved) all duties and responsibilities imposed by this section upon his predecessor in office with regard to such [material](#a-1), except that he shall not be held responsible for any default or dereliction which occurred before his designation.

- (c) **Information considered confidential—**
  - (1) All information reported to or otherwise obtained by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) which is not subject to the requirements of [subsection (b)](#b) shall be considered confidential when so marked by the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) supplying the information and shall not be disclosed, except in accordance with the procedures established in [paragraph (2)](#c-2) and [paragraph (3)](#c-3).
  - (2) If the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) determines that a document marked confidential by the [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) supplying it may be disclosed because it is not a trade secret or commercial or financial information which is obtained from any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) and which is privileged or confidential, within the meaning of [section 46(f) of this title](/usc/15/46.md?p=f), then the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall notify such [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) in writing that the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) intends to disclose the document at a date not less than 10 days after the date of receipt of notification.
  - (3) Any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) receiving such notification may, if he believes disclosure of the document would cause disclosure of a trade secret, or commercial or financial information which is obtained from any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) and which is privileged or confidential, within the meaning of [section 46(f) of this title](/usc/15/46.md?p=f), before the date set for release of the document, bring an action in the district court of the United States for the district within which the documents are located or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to restrain disclosure of the document. Any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) receiving such notification may file with the appropriate district court or court of appeals of the United States, as appropriate, an [application](/usc/15/77ccc.md?p=8) for a stay of disclosure. The documents shall not be disclosed until the court has ruled on the [application](/usc/15/77ccc.md?p=8) for a stay.
- (d) **Particular disclosures allowed—**
  - (1) The provisions of [subsection (c)](#c) shall not be construed to prohibit—
    - (A) the disclosure of information to either House of the Congress or to any [committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) or subcommittee of the Congress, except that the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) immediately shall notify the owner or provider of any such information of a request for information designated as confidential by the owner or provider;
    - (B) the disclosure of the results of any investigation or study carried out or prepared by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15), except that no information shall be identified nor shall information be disclosed in such a manner as to disclose a trade secret of any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) supplying the trade secret, or to disclose any commercial or financial information which is obtained from any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) and which is privileged or confidential;
    - (C) the disclosure of relevant and [material](#a-1) information in [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) adjudicative proceedings or in judicial proceedings to which the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) is a party; or
    - (D) the disclosure to a [Federal agency](#a-2) of disaggregated information obtained in accordance with section 3512[^1] of title 44, except that the recipient agency shall use such disaggregated information for economic, statistical, or policymaking purposes only, and shall not disclose such information in an individually identifiable form.
  - (2) Any disclosure of relevant and [material](#a-1) information in [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) adjudicative proceedings or in judicial proceedings to which the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) is a party shall be governed by the rules of the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) for adjudicative proceedings or by court rules or [orders](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14), except that the rules of the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall not be amended in a manner inconsistent with the purposes of this section.
- (e) **Effect on other statutory provisions limiting disclosure—** Nothing in this section shall supersede any statutory provision which expressly prohibits or limits particular disclosures by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15), or which authorizes disclosures to any other [Federal agency](#a-2).
- (f) **Exemption from public disclosure—**
  - (1) **In general—** Any [material](#a-1) which is received by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) in any investigation, a purpose of which is to determine whether any [person](/usc/15/78m.md?p=h-8-E) may have violated any provision of the laws administered by the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15), and which is provided pursuant to any compulsory process under this subchapter or which is provided voluntarily in place of such compulsory process shall not be required to be disclosed under [section 552 of title 5](/usc/5/552.md) or any other provision of law, except as provided in [paragraph (2)(B)](#f-2-B) of this section.
  - (2) **Material obtained from a foreign source—**
    - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) shall not be required to disclose under [section 552 of title 5](/usc/5/552.md) or any other provision of law—
      - (i) any [material](#a-1) obtained from a foreign law enforcement agency or other foreign government agency, if the foreign law enforcement agency or other foreign government agency has requested confidential treatment, or has precluded such disclosure under other use limitations, as a condition of providing the [material](#a-1);
      - (ii) any [material](#a-1) reflecting a [consumer](/usc/15/1615.md?p=d-2) complaint obtained from any other foreign source, if that foreign source supplying the [material](#a-1) has requested confidential treatment as a condition of providing the [material](#a-1); or
      - (iii) any [material](#a-1) reflecting a [consumer](/usc/15/1615.md?p=d-2) complaint submitted to a [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) reporting mechanism sponsored in part by foreign law enforcement agencies or other foreign government agencies.
    - (B) **Savings provision—** Nothing in this subsection shall authorize the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) to withhold information from the Congress or prevent the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15) from complying with an [order](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14) of a court of the United States in an action commenced by the United States or the [Commission](/usc/15/78c.md?p=a-15).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, § 21, as added Pub. L. 96–252, § 14, May 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 385; amended Pub. L. 103–312, § 8, Aug. 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 1694; Pub. L. 109–455, §§ 6, 13, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3376, 3382; Pub. L. 112–203, § 1, Dec. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 1484.)

## Notes

### Amendment of Section

For repeal of amendment by section 13 of Pub. L. 109–455, see Termination Date of 2006 Amendment note below.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 552(e) of title 5, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was redesignated section 552(f) of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by section 1802(b) of Pub. L. 99–570.

Section 4605(j) of title 50, referred to in subsec. (b)(6)(D), was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1766(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2232. For provisions similar to those of former section 4605(j) of title 50, see section 4813(c) of title 50, as enacted by Pub. L. 115–232.

Section 3512 of title 44, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(D), which related to requirements for the collection of information by independent Federal regulatory agencies, was a part of chapter 35 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents. Chapter 35 was amended generally by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96–511) and subsequently by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13).

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 21 of act Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, was renumbered section 28 and is classified to section 58 of this title.

### Amendments

2012—Pub. L. 112–203, § 1, amended Pub. L. 109–455, § 13. See 2006 Amendment notes below.

2006—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 109–455, § 6(a), which inserted at end “The custodian may make such material available to any foreign law enforcement agency upon the prior certification of an appropriate official of any such foreign law enforcement agency, either by a prior agreement or memorandum of understanding with the Commission or by other written certification, that such material will be maintained in confidence and will be used only for official law enforcement purposes, if—”, added subpars. (A) to (D) setting forth conditions for making materials available to foreign law enforcement agencies, and inserted concluding provisions restricting disclosure of certain antitrust materials, was repealed by Pub. L. 109–455, § 13, as amended by Pub. L. 112–203, § 1. See Termination Date of 2006 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–455, § 6(b), which inserted heading “Exemption from public disclosure” and amended text of subsec. (f) generally, was repealed by Pub. L. 109–455, § 13, as amended by Pub. L. 112–203, § 1. Prior to amendment by section 6(b), text read as follows: “Any material which is received by the Commission in any investigation, a purpose of which is to determine whether any person may have violated any provision of the laws administered by the Commission, and which is provided pursuant to any compulsory process under this subchapter or which is provided voluntarily in place of such compulsory process shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5.” See Termination Date of 2006 Amendment note below.

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(1), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(2), inserted “, tangible thing,” after “document”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(3), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(4), in subpar. (A), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,”, in subpar. (B), inserted “, and may make tangible things available,” after “transcripts of oral testimony” and “, things,” after “such material”, in subpar. (C), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,” and “, things,” after “material”, and in subpar. (D)(i), inserted “, tangible things,” after “documentary material”.

Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(5), (6), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,”.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(7), inserted “The custodian of any tangible things may make such things available for inspection to such persons on the same basis.” after first sentence, and “results of inspections of tangible things,” after “Such documentary material,”.

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 103–312, § 8(8), inserted “tangible things,” after “documentary material,”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination Date of 2006 Amendment

Amendment by section 6 of Pub. L. 109–455 repealed effective Sept. 30, 2027, and provisions amended by Pub. L. 109–455 to be amended to read as if Pub. L. 109–455 had not been enacted, see section 13 of Pub. L. 109–455, set out as a note under section 44 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–312 applicable only with respect to compulsory process issued after Aug. 26, 1994, see section 15(d) of Pub. L. 103–312, set out as a note under section 45 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective May 28, 1980, see section 23 of Pub. L. 96–252, set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 45 of this title.