Information power: Which statement best describes information power?

• A. It increases when you withhold information.
• B. It increases with access to secure data systems and information; openness increases power, while withholding can undermine trust.
• C. It has nothing to do with data access.
• D. It is only about gossip.

Answer: (B)

Access to information shapes influence because it lets you base decisions on solid facts, verify claims, and coordinate actions effectively. When you can access secure data systems and information, you gain the ability to monitor performance, spot issues, and guide strategies in ways others can’t. Sharing information openly further boosts this leverage by building trust, enabling collaboration, and aligning everyone toward common goals. On the other hand, withholding information chips away at credibility, creates uncertainty, and hampers teamwork, which reduces influence over time.

So, the description that information power grows with access to secure data and information, and that openness increases power while withholding information undermines trust, best captures what information power is.