I had a boss who called this sort of non-compliance compliance “the slow roll.” You appear to be cooperating, but your cooperation does not advance the other side’s agenda. You did exactly what they asked you to do, just not in a way they expected. He was awesome at it and ended up in the top job, having destroyed or outlasted all the better candidates. (Frankly, I was pleased when he died. Some people improve the whole world by not being in it.)
Another term for it is malicious obedience. It is bad faith, to say the least.
I knew an engineer who would answer questions that you asked him. And only what you asked him.
Most people try to divine what it is you are trying to find out, and adjust their answer to try to give you what you need.
This guy, he got his boss so angry that he would blurt out in frustration “For Christ’s sake, will you give them the answer you know they are trying to obtain???”
Asking him questions was like encountering a troll at a bridge who wouldn’t let you pass until you asked it exactly the right way.