Privacy (UK: /ˈprɪvəsiː/, US: /ˈpraɪ-/)[1][2] is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively.

The domain of privacy partially overlaps with security, which can include the concepts of appropriate use and protection of information. Privacy may also take the form of bodily integrity.
There have been many different conceptions of privacy throughout history. Most cultures recognize the right of an individual to withhold aspects of their personal lives from public record. The right not to be subjected to unsanctioned invasions of privacy by the government, corporations, or individuals is part of many countries' privacy laws, and in some cases, constitutions.
With the rise of technology, the debate regarding privacy has expanded from a bodily sense to include a digital sense. In most countries, the right to digital privacy is considered an extension of the original right to privacy, and many countries have passed acts that further protect digital privacy from public and private entities.
There are multiple techniques to invade privacy, which may be employed by corporations or governments for profit or political reasons. Conversely, in order to protect privacy, people may employ encryption or anonymity measures.


Etymology DeCew, Judith (2015-01-01). Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Privacy (Spring 2015 ed.). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University.
Works cited Edit
- Lessig, Lawrence (2006). "ELEVEN: Privacy". Code (2.0 ed.). Lawrence Lessig. ISBN 978-0-465-03914-2. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- Solove, Daniel J. (2010). Understanding Privacy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674035072.


Further reading Edit
- Singleton, Solveig (2008). "Privacy". In Hamowy, Ronald (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Cato Institute. pp. 390–392. doi:10.4135/9781412965811.n242. ISBN 978-1412965804. LCCN 2008009151. OCLC 750831024.


External links Edit
- Glenn Greenwald: Why privacy matters. Video on YouTube, provided by TED. Published 10 October 2014.
- International Privacy Index world map, The 2007 International Privacy Ranking, Privacy International (London).
- "Privacy" entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Wikipedia's privacy policy – Wikimedia Foundation