Digital privacy

Digital privacy helps keep personal information safe when using the internet and online services. It protects things like personal details, messages, and private moments from being seen or used by others without permission. There are three main parts to digital privacy: keeping information private, protecting messages, and making sure each person controls their own data.

As more people share information on social media and other online platforms, companies sometimes collect this data. For example, Facebook has shared users' information with advertisers. When people share more online, they might lose some of their privacy because their data gets linked with other information.

To help protect people, many countries have made laws about digital privacy. In the United States, new laws like the American Data Privacy and Protection Act of 2022 (ADPPA) aim to create stronger privacy rules. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is another example of privacy rules. These laws help make sure that companies do not misuse personal data and that people have more control over their own information online. The Federal Trade Commission works to enforce these rules and keep the digital world fair and safe for everyone.

Types of privacy

Information privacy

Main article: Information privacy

Information privacy means people should decide how their online information is collected and used. This is important for details that tell who a person is.

As technology has grown, ideas about privacy have changed. Rules in places like the European Union help protect this right, such as the General Data Protection Regulation. In other places, like the United States, there are fewer rules.

Sometimes, websites and apps ask for permission to collect data, but it is not always easy to say no.

Public Perception of Data Privacy Risks and Regulation

A 2023 Pew Research study shows many Americans worry about how companies and the government use their data. Most feel they have little control over this.

Communication privacy

Communication privacy is the idea that when people send messages online, they should expect those messages to stay private and only go to the person they were meant for.

But messages can sometimes be seen by others without the sender knowing. This can happen through hacking or by not understanding the rules of the platform being used.

Individual privacy

Individual privacy means people should be able to use the internet without unwanted information or ads interrupting them. Some people try to stay anonymous online using tools like onion routing to hide their identity.

Information anonymity

To stay anonymous, some people use onion routing, which was created to hide who is sending and receiving information online. This led to the creation of Tor, a free tool that helps protect people’s privacy online.

Communication anonymity

There are tools to keep messages private, like Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), which locks and unlocks email messages so only the right person can read them. Other tools like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) help keep online payments safe.

Additional services

There are other ways to protect online privacy. For example, changing an IP address can make it seem like a person is in a different place. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a safe path for information to travel, helping keep data private.

The (no)harm principle

The idea of privacy comes from the thought that people should be free to do what they want as long as it doesn’t hurt others. Today, with many people sharing information online, everyone needs to think about how to protect their privacy.

The economic value of data

People’s information online is very important. Some experts say this information has two kinds of value: one that businesses can use, and one that belongs just to the person. When companies collect this information, it can be good or bad. It might help improve services, but it can also feel like someone is taking something that isn’t theirs.

There are rules to help protect this information, like the EU Data Protection Directive and the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Because technology keeps changing, it’s important for everyone to learn how to manage their own privacy online and for leaders to make good laws about how information is used.

Privacy and information breaches

Sometimes people try to take others' personal information without permission. This is called hacking. Hackers might target one person or a whole group, like a bank or a social media site.

One way hackers try to get information is through phishing. They create a website that looks like a real one, such as a bank or social media site, but it is not. The hacker might send an email that looks like it is from the real website, asking the person to sign in or share details. When the person does this, their information goes to the hacker instead. There are tools that can help protect against these tricks.

Digital Privacy and Law Enforcement

Law enforcement can look at people's private data online. Companies like Ring say they won’t share this information unless they are asked by a court and must follow the rules. Law enforcement can get user information by using special court orders such as subpoenas and search warrants, along with other details called metadata.

Development and controversy

Digital privacy is an important topic for many people. In the past ten years, talks and books about digital privacy have grown a lot. People are more aware of how their information is kept safe online, especially when using places like cloud storage and social media.

Before 2013, most worries about digital privacy were about how social media services handle personal information. But big news stories made people more careful about trusting online services. Today, keeping digital information safe is very important as more of our lives happen online.