Privacy is the ability of an individual to be left alone, out of public view, and in control of information about oneself.One can distinguish the ability to prevent intrusion in one’s physical space (physical privacy, for example protection of the private home) and the ability to control the collection and sharing of information about oneself (informational privacy).The concept of privacy therefore overlaps, but does not coincide, with the concept of data protection.

The right to privacy is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 12) as well as in the European Convention of Human Rights (Article 8).