Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves, or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively.
The domain of privacy partially overlaps with security, which can include the concepts of appropriate use, as well as protection of information. The right not to be subjected to unsanctioned invasions of privacy by the government, corporations or individuals is part of many countries’ privacy laws, and in some cases, constitutions.
The concept of universal individual privacy is a modern construct primarily associated with Western culture, British and North American in particular, and remained virtually unknown in some cultures until recent times. Most cultures, however, recognize the ability of individuals to withhold certain parts of their personal information from wider society, such as closing the door to one’s home.
