Currently the only direct means of linking an NCube to access restrictions is through the variable description of a dimension, measure, or attribute OR by creating an Item record describing and referencing the object and providing the access information. This is semi-related to the way it was discussed in the DDI4 development work as access restrictions may be related to the object creator restrictions which apply wherever the item is held and those that are imposed by individual repositories or archives which may have additional access limitations applied to different user groups.

We need a clearer relationship between objects and access definitions that are applicable at different levels. This may require review of access in Codebook, but it’s structure provides more direct reference between object and access restrictions. Work should cover both access to the data object and to the metadata itself which may also be restricted due to confidentiality issues (examples have arisen in IPUMS and other projects) or ownership (example: formulas for determining “likely voters” in various polls).