Under what circumstances may a private investigator disclose confidential information without client consent?

• A. When legally required or permitted by contract; otherwise maintain confidentiality.
• B. When convenient to share with a partner.
• C. Only with the client's consent; never allowed otherwise.
• D. It is always permissible to disclose to public agencies.

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality is the default rule for a private investigator: information learned about a client is kept confidential unless there is a justified, recognized reason to disclose. You may disclose without the client’s consent only if the law requires it (for example, a subpoena or court order) or if a contract with the client or another party explicitly permits the disclosure. Outside those narrow exceptions, sharing confidential details would breach ethical obligations and potentially the law. So disclosures to public agencies or to partners are only allowed when there’s a legal obligation or a contractual permission in place; otherwise, confidentiality must be maintained.