Privacy

Privacy (UK: /ˈprɪvəsi/, US: /ˈpraɪ-/)) is the right to keep parts of our lives and information to ourselves. It lets us decide who knows what about us and helps us feel safe.

The idea of privacy has been important for a long time. Most cultures respect people’s right to keep some things private. Many countries have laws to protect this right, making sure that governments or companies don’t enter someone’s private life without permission.

With more technology today, digital privacy—the safety of our personal information online—has become very important. Many countries have made laws to protect people’s digital information from being misused.

Sometimes, people’s privacy can be invaded for different reasons. To stay safe, people can use tools like encryption or anonymity to protect their information. Knowing about privacy helps everyone feel more secure in their lives, both online and off.

Etymology

The word privacy comes from a Latin word called "privatus". This word described things that were personal and belonged to oneself, not to the government. It came from an old Latin verb "privere", which means "to be deprived of" something.

History

Philosophical views on privacy

The idea of privacy has been talked about for a long time. Ancient Greek philosophers, like Aristotle, talked about the difference between life in public and life at home. Religious texts, such as the Jewish Book of Sirach and the Qur'an, also say it is important to respect others' privacy.

Later thinkers, like John Locke, helped shape our modern idea of privacy as a basic right.

Technology

As new technologies grow, they change how we think about privacy. The invention of the printing press and the Internet made it easier to share information, but also made new ways for privacy to be invaded.

Books like George Orwell's 1984_, warned about the dangers of too much surveillance and control. Today, laws help protect people's digital privacy, such as rules about searching phones without permission. These examples show why it is important to protect personal information.

Internet

Main article: Internet privacy

See also: Internet § Social impact, Computer network § Security, Security § Computer security, and Information privacy

The Internet helps people connect and talk to each other quickly and easily. Because the Internet has many new security problems, talking about online privacy often gets mixed up with security. Some companies focus only on security to follow rules, while trying to use fewer rules.

The Internet can affect privacy in many ways because of technology and who controls it. For example, the idea of the "right to be forgotten" comes from being able to store and search huge amounts of data. People who share online may not expect their information to stay forever. Some privacy groups say we need better technology, like encryption, and stronger laws to protect people online.

Social networking

Many of the most visited websites in the world are social networks. Facebook and Twitter are examples of popular social networks.

Research shows that adults often worry more about privacy online than younger users. Some users don’t realize how much their privacy is at risk on these sites. This can be a problem because some employers check social media when hiring. This has led some people to carefully manage their privacy settings and online reputation.

Privacy and location-based services

Main article: Location-based service

Mobile devices can track where you are, which raises privacy concerns. Your location and preferences are personal information, and sharing them without permission can violate your privacy.

There have been cases where companies misused location data. For example, AccuWeather was found selling users' location data even when users opted out. This has led to pressure on big tech companies to improve how they handle user privacy.

Advertising

Main article: Online advertising

Further information: Surveillance capitalism and Mass surveillance industry

The Internet is a big platform for advertising. Some companies track what users do online to show them ads based on their interests. Many people worry about how much data is being collected and used.

Metadata

Main article: Metadata

Further information: Data re-identification

We can learn a lot about people just by looking at the details of their online activities, like what they search for or what they post. This information can be used to guess things about a person. In some countries, laws have been made to control how this data is collected and used.

Legal right to privacy

Main article: Right to privacy

See also: Privacy law, Information privacy law, Right to be forgotten, and § Legal discussions of Internet privacy

Most countries give people the right to keep their personal matters private. For example, the Constitution of Brazil says that privacy is important, and the Constitution of South Africa states that everyone has a right to privacy. Many countries have special laws to protect this right. These laws help make sure that personal information is handled carefully and not misused.

Internationally, there are also agreements to protect privacy. The United Nations says that no one should have their privacy, home, or family unfairly disturbed. The European Union has strong rules called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect personal data and give people more control over their information. These rules help keep privacy safe in many parts of the world.

Conceptions of privacy

Privacy means that people can keep parts of their lives and information about themselves hidden from others. This helps people feel more in control and express themselves freely.

One way people think about privacy is called "contextual integrity." This means information should move in ways that are normal and expected for different situations. An old idea from 1890 is the "right to be let alone." This means people should be free to be by themselves without being watched or disturbed.

People value privacy because it lets them take part in society without others collecting too much information about them. Control over personal information is very important. In today’s world with big data, keeping this control can be difficult.

There are different states of privacy, such as being alone, being close to someone, being anonymous in a crowd, or not sharing too much. Privacy is linked to personal control, where people decide what to share and when. It helps protect our identity and our ability to make choices. Privacy is also important for keeping intimate relationships strong and for protecting our space from unwanted attention.

Actions which reduce privacy

There are several ways that privacy can be reduced or challenged. One way is when someone enters another person's private space without permission. Another way is when personal information is shared publicly, which could embarrass someone. This can include sharing details about a person's life or private matters.

Companies often collect personal data from users, such as browsing history and location information. This data is sometimes used to create detailed profiles that are shared with advertisers. This can invade privacy because people might not fully understand how their information is being used or have a say in it. When information is collected and shared without clear consent, it can lead to unwanted attention or misuse of personal details.

Techniques to improve privacy

There are several ways people can help protect their privacy online. One common method is encryption, which hides information so only the right person can read it. For example, the Signal app uses encryption to keep messages private, and many email services offer ways to encrypt messages too.

Another way to protect privacy is through anonymity. Tools like Tor and Virtual Private Networks hide a user's location and identity online. While these tools offer protection, they don’t hide everything, so users should understand their limits. Simple steps like using private browsing mode can also help by not saving a user's browsing history on their device.

Privacy in non-human animals

David Attenborough, a biologist and natural historian, noted that animals like gorillas care about their privacy. When animals are in crowded spaces like zoos, they can face health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. This stress can also change how they act and their relationships.

Animals in zoos sometimes act differently because they know people are watching. For example, cotton-top tamarins are less social, chimpanzees can become more aggressive, and lion-tailed macaques may pace more. Some orangutans also cover their heads less when there are fewer visitors around.