A method and a system for information management and control is presented, based on modular and abstract description of the information. Identifiers are used to identify features of interest in the information and information use policies are assigned directly or indirectly on the basis of the identifiers, allowing for flexible and efficient policy management and enforcement, in that a policy can be defined with a direct relationship to the actual information content of digital data items. The information content can be of various kinds: e.g., textual documents, numerical spreadsheets, audio and video files, pictures and images, drawings etc. The system can provide protection against information policy breaches such as information misuse, unauthorized distribution and leakage, and for information tracking.