Legal Definitions - privacy, right of

The right of privacy refers to a person's right to personal autonomy and to be free from unwarranted public scrutiny or exposure.

Although the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly provide for a right of privacy, the Supreme Court has recognized that it is implied in the "zones of privacy" created by specific constitutional guarantees. For example, the Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, which can include searches of a person's home or personal belongings without a warrant. The Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination, which can include being forced to reveal personal information. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and association, which can include the right to associate with others privately.

Examples of the right of privacy include:

• A person's medical records being kept confidential and not shared without their consent.
• A person's personal emails or text messages not being accessed by others without their permission.
• A person's home not being searched without a warrant or probable cause.
• A person's private conversations not being recorded or listened to without their knowledge or consent.

These examples illustrate how the right of privacy protects individuals from unwanted intrusion into their personal lives and information. It allows individuals to maintain control over their own personal information and to make decisions about who has access to it.