Legal Definitions - privacy law

Definition: Privacy law refers to federal or state statutes that protect an individual's right to privacy and restrict public access to personal information, such as medical records and tax returns.

For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal privacy law that protects an individual's medical records and personal health information from being disclosed without their consent. Similarly, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Privacy law is an important area of legal studies that focuses on protecting an individual's right to be left alone and keeping their personal informationconfidential. It helps to ensure that sensitive information is not misused or disclosed without proper authorization.