The US Supreme Court ruled Monday against a South Dakota newspaper that wanted more information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The paper was seeking to learn how much money annually goes to stores nationwide that participate in the government’s assistance program, previously known as food stamps.

In the case, Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media, the court ruled 6-3 that the US Department of Agriculture was not required to release SNAP data under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The court found that disclosure of the requested data would cause SNAP members financial injury within the grocery industry. The court applied FOIA Exemption 4, whereby the data would be considered confidential and therefore not accessible for the media. Exemption 4 states that the government may withhold confidential information that had been submitted to administrative agencies.

When Congress enacted FOIA it sought a “workable balance” between disclosure and other governmental interests—interests that may include providing private parties with sufficient assurances about the treatment of their proprietary information so they will cooperate in federal programs and supply the government with information vital to its work.

This ruling is seen as a win for business and government in the battle for privacy of information.