This indicates that it is important to be very clear not only about how confidentiality will be protected, but also why it is necessary. Here are the relevant Guidelines from the GFC documentation. Confidentiality' involves the preservation of a subject's anonymity, and the respecting of guarantees of privacy or confidentiality given to others whose data are to be used. Confidentiality must be preserved when handling the data during the research, when using the data in teaching or for scholarly presentations, and in publication. The research design must include procedures appropriate to securing the degree of confidentiality guaranteed.
Confidentiality is assumed to be guaranteed in the absence of a clear statement to the contrary.
It is a requirement of informed consent that any anticipated breach of confidentiality be clearly explained by the researcher to the subject. Appropriate care must be taken to guard against unintended breaches of confidentiality. In particular, where an unintended breach can be anticipated due to the nature or size of a subject population, association, or combination of information the researcher should deal with this risk accordingly. Where the researcher either uses existing data maintained in computerized form or in data banks or institutional records, or proposes to place data in any such system, the researcher must have in mind that the format may make it impossible to get prior consent for the use of such data. The researcher must always be concerned about risks to third parties arising from the use of confidential material.