What is a person who provides information with their identity concealed called?

A person who provides information with their identity concealed is referred to as a confidential informant. This term is used in law enforcement and criminal justice contexts to describe an individual who shares information about criminal activities while maintaining their anonymity. The information provided by a confidential informant is often crucial for investigations, allowing law enforcement to gather intelligence without compromising the informant's safety or privacy.

Confidential informants typically work under specific agreements that protect their identity and outline the conditions of their cooperation. This status is essential because it encourages individuals to come forward with sensitive information that they may otherwise withhold out of fear of reprisal.

In contrast, other options have specific meanings that differ from a confidential informant. For instance, an anonymous informant refers specifically to someone who does not even reveal their identity to law enforcement, which is more about the lack of any identification rather than a formal agreement. A witness is usually someone who has observed an event or crime and can testify to it, often with their identity known. A covert informant may imply that the person is undercover or involved in the criminal activity themselves, which does not align with the concept of just providing information anonymously.