Defining Privacy

Privacy means different things to different people. 

To some people privacy means their right to control what other people know about them. 

Others think of privacy as a right to be left alone to do their own thing or keeping their actions, discussions, movement and information free from public knowledge.

Added to the complexity of defining privacy is that there are different types of privacy including:

  • bodily privacy
  • territorial privacy
  • communications privacy and
  • information privacy.

Information Privacy

Information privacy can be defined as a person's right to control their own personal information.

Personal information is information or an opinion, whether true or not, relating to a natural person or the affairs of a natural person whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion. 

A natural person, in this context, is a living human being.

Personal information can include combinations of:

  • name
  • address
  • date of birth
  • financial or health status
  • ethnicity
  • gender
  • religion
  • witness statements
  • alleged behaviours and licensing details. 

It may also include; photographs, biometrics or video footage.

South Australian Government agencies manage privacy and personal information in line with the Information Privacy Principles Instruction.