Chatham House Rule
/ˌtʃatəm haʊs ˈruːl
/noun British
A rule or principle according to which information disclosed during a meeting may be reported by those present, but the source of that information may not be explicitly or implicitly identified: the conference was held under the Chatham House Rule...
- Mr Lewincamp, speaking under the "Chatham House rule", clearly believed he would not be reported.
- At the other end might be an uncomplimentary observation about a politician at a private meeting held under Chatham House rules.
- It was unanimously agreed that the WLC would operate under the Chatham House Rule.
Origin
From Chatham House, the name of the building in London that houses the Royal Institute of International Affairs, by which the rule was devised.