1. The condition of being concealed or hidden; SYN. privateness, secrecy, concealment.
2. The quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others; SYN. privateness, seclusion.
The right of the individual to be free from secret surveillance (by scientific devices or other means) and from the disclosure to unauthorized persons of personal data, as accumulated in computer data banks. Always an issue complicated by considerations of state security, public welfare (in the case of criminal activity), and other factors, it has been rendered more complex by present-day technology.
Computer data
All Western countries now have computerized-data protection. In the us the Privacy Act 1974 requires that there should be no secret data banks and that agencies handling data must ensure their reliability and prevent misuse (information gained for one purpose must not be used for another). The public must be able to find out what is recorded and how it is used, and be able to correct it. Under the Freedom of Information Act 1967, citizens and organizations have the right to examine unclassified files.

Preventing information from being viewed by unauthorized parties.
The concept that a user’s data, such as stored files and e-mail, is not to be examined by anyone else without that user’s permission. A right to privacy is not generally recognized on the Internet. Federal law protects only e-mail in transit or in temporary storage, and only against access by Federal agencies. Employers often claim a right to inspect any data on their systems. To obtain privacy, the user must take active measures such as encryption. See also encryption, PGP, Privacy Enhanced Mail. Compare security.