Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§2274 Communication of Restricted Data

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 23— - DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XVII— - ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER › § 2274

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime for anyone, whether they have it lawfully or not, who has or controls any document, drawing, photo, plan, model, tool, note, or other information that includes "Restricted Data" to give, send, reveal, try to give, or plan to give that material to another person. If the person intends to hurt the United States or to help a foreign nation, the punishment can be life in prison, any number of years in prison, a fine up to $100,000, or both. If the person has reason to think the data will be used to harm the United States or help a foreign nation, the penalty is up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2274

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, lawfully or unlawfully, having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted with any document, writing, sketch, photograph, plan, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information involving or incorporating Restricted Data—
(a)communicates, transmits, or discloses the same to any individual or person, or attempts or conspires to do any of the foregoing, with intent to injure the United States or with intent to secure an advantage to any foreign nation, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for life, or by imprisonment for any term of years or a fine of not more than $100,000 or both;
(b)communicates, transmits, or discloses the same to any individual or person, or attempts or conspires to do any of the foregoing, with reason to believe such data will be utilized to injure the United States or to secure an advantage to any foreign nation, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Cl. (b). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “$50,000” for “$500,000”. 1999—Cl. (a). Pub. L. 106–65, § 3148(a)(1), substituted “$100,000” for “$20,000”. Cl. (b). Pub. L. 106–65, § 3148(a)(2), substituted “$500,000” for “$10,000”. 1969—Pub. L. 91–161 made death penalty inapplicable for willful violation, or attempted violation of this section with intent to injure the United States, or secure an advantage for any foreign nation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2000 Amendment Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(g)(9)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–294, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective as of Oct. 5, 1999.

Effective Date

of 1969 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–161 applicable to offenses committed on or after Dec. 24, 1969, see section 7 of Pub. L. 91–161, set out as a note under section 2272 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2274

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73