Privacy

Privacy describes a state of personal sovereignty and independence, free from interference by other people, or from other unwanted attention. Privacy can impact a person's relationship with others, such as friends, family, and colleagues, as well as a person's relationship to a government and society at large or even how they see themselves in relation to these groups. Legal scholars, ethicists, and philosophers have long debated the concept of privacy and its implications for society. The expectation of privacy is a legal right in some countries, such as the United States. In some circumstances, however, government interests may override and limit an individual's right to privacy.

In the United States, the legal concept of privacy initially referred to a citizen's...