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Right to privacy
open-in-new
<p>The right to privacy is an element of various legal traditions that intends to restrain <a href="/facts/Governmental/N4bYL0VC">governmental</a> and private actions that threaten the <a href="/facts/Privacy/C269YalS">privacy</a> of individuals. Over 185 national <a href="/facts/Constitution/GppU7erf">constitutions</a> mention the right to privacy. Since the <a href="/facts/Global_surveillance_disclosures_(2013%25E2%2580%2593present)/FaqSXLnC">global surveillance disclosures</a> of 2013, the right to privacy has been a subject of international debate. Government agencies, such as the <a href="/facts/NSA/Sg6MGV1o">NSA</a>, <a href="/facts/FBI/UY93jwX6">FBI</a>, <a href="/facts/CIA/U7urmQYL">CIA</a>, <a href="/facts/R%2526AW/9HEEnIro">R&AW</a>, and <a href="/facts/GCHQ/XCMkfqWE">GCHQ</a>, have engaged in <a href="/facts/Mass_surveillance/GgAEJtso">mass</a>, <a href="/facts/Global_surveillance/0W9pfkAG">global surveillance</a>. Some current debates around the right to privacy include whether privacy can co-exist with the <a href="/facts/Surveillance_state/GgAEJtso">current capabilities</a> of <a href="/facts/Intelligence_agency/r3kDlaeD">intelligence agencies</a> to access and analyze many details of an individual's life; whether or not the right to privacy is forfeited as part of the <a href="/facts/Social_contract/vFPeB2J2">social contract</a> to bolster defense against supposed terrorist threats; and whether threats of <a href="/facts/Terrorism/DHJGPJ6P">terrorism</a> are a valid excuse to spy on the general population. Private sector actors can also threaten the right to privacy – particularly technology companies, such as <a href="/facts/Amazon_(company)/YzUTUVE8">Amazon</a>, <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple</a>, <a href="/facts/Meta_Platforms/ylApt16y">Meta</a>, <a href="/facts/Google/GT9Sugza">Google</a>, <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a>, and <a href="/facts/Yahoo/nKhTaV3M">Yahoo</a> that use and collect personal data. </p>