The degree to which an individual can determine which personal information is to be shared with whom and for what purpose. Although always a concern when users pass confidential information to vendors by phone, mail or fax, the Internet has brought this issue to the forefront. Web sites often have privacy policies that stipulate exactly what will be done with the information you enter. For more information, visit www.privacyalliance.org and www.epic.org. Contrast with confidentiality, which deals with unauthorized access to data. See privacy policy, CPO, EU Directive, GLB, HIPAA and P3P.
