List top tags/topics used across data portals, ranked by dataset count.
AI agents call list_topics to retrieve information from Ontario Data without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries organizational metadata about dataset topics. It has no side effects, creates no resources, executes no code, and poses no irreversible risk. The query is informational only, making it a classic Read operation with minimal security impact even if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool 'list_topics' performs listing/enumeration of metadata (tags/topics) across data portals, ranked by dataset count. No modification, execution, or deletion occurs.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List top tags/topics used across data portals, ranked by dataset count. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Ontario Data MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Ontario Data MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_topics: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Ontario Data. Nothing to install.
list_topics is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_topics rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_topics. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
list_topics is provided by the Ontario Data MCP server (sprine/ontario-data-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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