A prisoner of war is required to give their:

The requirement for a prisoner of war to provide their name, rank, service number, and date of birth is rooted in the protections outlined by the Geneva Conventions. These conventions establish the rights of individuals who are captured during armed conflicts, ensuring that they are treated humanely. The information requested is limited to those specific details to protect the individual and their identity, while preventing any additional sensitive or classified information from being disclosed.

Providing military secrets, a home address, or a social security number does not align with the guidelines set forth in international law governing the treatment of prisoners of war. Such additional information could compromise national security and the safety of the individual’s family, respectively. Thus, the confined scope of information that a prisoner is obligated to disclose ensures both their protection and adherence to humanitarian standards during war.