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I am working on a confidential research project. I'm not allowed to talk to anybody outside of the group without explicit permission. However, my colleagues from other groups are curious of what I am doing. I don't want to damage the working relationship but I just can't share too much details. Should I lie something (they won't know) or ask them to shut up?

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  • 13
    Don't lie, that's wrong.
    – Daniel
    Oct 30, 2015 at 14:58
  • 34
    Always relish the opportunity to drop the line, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
    – Nuclear Hoagie
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:00
  • 11
    @Matt I believe the original is "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you"?
    – Cronax
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:29
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    Just a note, don't try to share "just a few" of the details. It is really difficult to realize when one has to shut up while one is talking. So don't even start talking about details.
    – o.m.
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:00
  • Do what the CIA does, just say it's top secret!
    – user134578
    Oct 31, 2015 at 5:09

4 Answers 4

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It is perfectly fine to say: "I am working on something, but I was told by my boss Dr Who to keep it confidential. You can ask Dr Who if you are interested."

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  • 13
    If you are still concerned about your working relationship with the above statement, you could always replace it with "I wish I could tell you, but the project is confidential and I don't know how much I am allowed to say. You could try asking Dr. Who if you're curious." (not putting this as an answer since it's essentially the same as your answer)
    – Cronax
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:35
  • This is a good answer as long as Dr Who doesn't mind taking the responsibility
    – Kian
    Oct 31, 2015 at 22:22
  • If Dr. Who is not willing to take responsibility for deciding how to deal with those who should not know about the contents, then the scenario is different enough to warrant approaching the situation on a case by case basis.
    – Cort Ammon
    Nov 1, 2015 at 5:49
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Simply tell them you are not at liberty to discuss the details of the project.

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  • That particular formulation, "I'm not at liberty to say", has become such a cliché! You should be mindful of the connotations this cliché might have. OTOH, those connotations are basically exactly what you want to confer.
    – Jörg W Mittag
    Nov 1, 2015 at 14:11
  • depends on the nature of the project. In a great many projects, simply giving the name of the Dr. you are working with is enough for someone to deduce the nature of the project. Answering with more could potentially open you up to legal repercussions, depending on the nature of your confidentiality agreement.
    – Jim B
    Nov 2, 2015 at 7:00
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The fact that you are working on a confidential research project is not the confidential part, so you are free to mention that.

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  • Maybe it's so confidential that Student is not even allowed to disclose that xe is working on a condifential project.
    – gerrit
    Oct 30, 2015 at 15:09
  • @gerrit Well, the student posted here, so there's that...
    – Tristan
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:08
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    @Tristan wait, aren't internet posts totally anonymous?
    – Mindwin Remember Monica
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:32
  • @Mindwin When since?
    – yo'
    Oct 30, 2015 at 23:44
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Lying is unnecessary, and has the potential to backfire. Simply reiterate that you do not have permission to speak about it.

If they persist, then they are damaging the working relationship, as they would be a nuisance.

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