PRIVACY IS AN area of growing importance for people and organizations. This growth roughly corresponds with the growth of the internet, which has made it possible for people to share all types of information very quickly. Organizations collect and use information to conduct business, governments collect and use information to provide services and security for their citizens, and individuals share information to get goods and services. People also share information to network while looking for jobs and to catch up with old friends. However, this increased collection of information comes with questions about proper information use.

This chapter provides an overview of privacy issues. Because privacy is a very large field, it is impossible to discuss all of the unique and interesting issues in the field of privacy. For the most part, this chapter is limited to the areas where information technology and privacy meet. This chapter also will address general privacy concepts.