# Policy Exception Spreads Too Far

## Ontology Metadata

Code: ISS-0049
Version: ISS-0049@0.1.0
Ontology release: 0.1.0
Updated: 2026-05-10T00:00:00Z
Canonical URL: /workbench/issues/policy-exception-spreads-too-far/

## Summary

A narrow policy exception, allowance, or special case spreads beyond its intended scope and begins governing broader cases.

## Category

- CAT-0110 — Spread & Escalation
  - URL: /workbench/categories/spread-and-escalation/
  - Summary: Problems where small errors, local exceptions, risk signals, retries, permissions, or outputs spread downstream, grow in consequence, or trigger broader actions.

## Primary Pattern

- PAT-0360 — Propagation Amplification
  - URL: /workbench/patterns/propagation-amplification/
  - Summary: A structural condition where an effect, declaration, authority, constraint, or state increases in scope or intensity as it propagates beyond declared bounds.

## Declared Patterns

- PAT-0360 — Propagation Amplification
  - URL: /workbench/patterns/propagation-amplification/
  - Summary: A structural condition where an effect, declaration, authority, constraint, or state increases in scope or intensity as it propagates beyond declared bounds.
- PAT-0140 — Boundary Leakage
  - URL: /workbench/patterns/boundary-leakage/
  - Summary: A structural condition where effects, permissions, state, data, or authority cross a declared boundary without an authorized exception.
- PAT-0340 — Overreach
  - URL: /workbench/patterns/overreach/
  - Summary: A structural condition where actions, effects, authority, or modifications extend beyond declared scope without authorization.

## Derived Primary Lenses

- LEN-0120 — Boundary Compliance Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/boundary-compliance-lens/
  - Summary: Evaluates observed structure against declared boundary posture, including allow, block, and exception rules.
- LEN-0190 — Escalation Gradient Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/escalation-gradient-lens/
  - Summary: Measures structural growth or intensification across sequential executions, states, or transitions.
- LEN-0220 — Isolation Boundary Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/isolation-boundary-lens/
  - Summary: Evaluates whether structural constraints, effects, and regions remain contained within declared boundaries.
- LEN-0240 — Overreach Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/overreach-lens/
  - Summary: Detects structure that exceeds declared scope or authority reach.
- LEN-0250 — Propagation Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/propagation-lens/
  - Summary: Traces how structural declarations, effects, or state changes propagate across boundaries or stages.

## Derived Secondary Lenses

- LEN-0290 — Variance / Entropy Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/variance-entropy-lens/
  - Summary: Measures structural variability across repeated or comparable evaluations and identifies divergence beyond expected bounds.

## Search Intents

- policy exception spreads too far
- AI applies exception too broadly
- policy exception used for other cases
- exception becomes general rule
- AI over-applies exception
- special case spreads into policy