What is the Difference Between Confidentiality and Privacy?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between confidentiality and privacy lies in the scope and focus of the terms. Here are the key distinctions:
- Privacy: Privacy concerns the protection of personal details and information from public access. It is about controlling the extent, timing, and circumstances of sharing personal information. Privacy ensures that individuals have the right to know how their personal information is collected and disclosed. It is about people and their right to be protected from unwanted interference in their personal matters.
- Confidentiality: Confidentiality, on the other hand, pertains to the protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access. It is about data, specifically identifiable data, and the agreements made about maintaining and who has access to such data. Confidentiality is an ethical duty that prevents certain people from sharing information with third parties. It is about the information discussed and the commitment to keep it secret and not share it with anyone else without permission.
In summary:
- Privacy is about people and their right to control the access others have to themselves.
- Confidentiality is about data and the agreements made to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Confidentiality and Privacy? Comparative Table: Confidentiality vs Privacy
Comparative Table: Confidentiality vs Privacy
Here is a table highlighting the differences between confidentiality and privacy:
| Feature | Privacy | Confidentiality |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Privacy is a state where a person is free from public interference, and their personal details are protected from unauthorized access. | Confidentiality is a situation where information is kept secret from unauthorized persons, and it is often a part of a legal relationship or agreement. |
| Nature | Privacy is a right of a person, enforceable at a given time. | Confidentiality is an agreement or a duty, meaning that there must be some kind of trust or relationship for the information to be shared. |
| Scope | Privacy encompasses a broader set of rights and protections, focusing on the overall person and protecting them from unwanted invasion and intrusion. | Confidentiality typically focuses on the secure handling of specific information, such as health records. |
| Legal Context | Privacy is protected under law, such as the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). | Confidentiality is often sourced from case law and can exist without express statements as to its presence. |
| Examples | Physical privacy (protecting an individual's natural right to sustain their own physical space) and information privacy (protecting personal data from unauthorized access). | Common types of confidential relationships include between lawyers and clients, and between doctors and patients. |
In summary, privacy is a broader concept that focuses on protecting an individual's personal information and space, while confidentiality deals with the secure handling of specific information, often within the context of a legal relationship or agreement.
Read more:
- Confidentiality vs Anonymity
- Privacy vs Security
- Nondisclosure vs Confidentiality Agreement
- Data Integrity vs Data Security
- Public Key vs Private Key
- Network Security vs Information Security
- Trust vs Confidence
- Safety vs Security
- Encoding vs Encryption
- Security vs Protection
- Private Cloud vs Public Cloud
- Symmetric Key Encryption vs Public Key Encryption
- Integrity vs Dignity
- Data vs Information
- Honesty vs Integrity
- Data Compression vs Data Encryption
- Public IP vs Private IP
- Data Hiding vs Encapsulation
- Personal Identity vs Social Identity