When Does Privacy Become Secrecy?

What Is Privacy?

Privacy is the right or choice to control your personal information, actions, and boundaries. It’s about deciding who gets access to parts of your life, and under what circumstances.

Key Points

• Rooted in autonomy and dignity

• Not inherently suspicious

• Control over personal information

• It's about managing access, it's not about hiding wrongdoing

• Emotion attached: neutral, healthy

• Moral weight: usually none

Examples:

• Not sharing your medical records with coworkers.

• Locking your phone.

What Is Secrecy?

Secrecy is the intentional act of concealing information, usually because revealing it

might have consequences on a personal, social, or ethical level.

Key Points

• Concealment of information

• Often carries an implication of avoidance

• Can be benign (planning a surprise) or harmful (hiding misconduct)

• Emotion attached: Often guilt or fear (but not always)

• Moral weight: depends on the intention

Examples:

• Concealing financial trouble from a partner.

• Deleting messages to hide behaviour.