Secrecy

Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups, possibly while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret.

Secrecy is often controversial, depending on the content or nature of the secret, the group or people keeping the secret, and the motivation for secrecy. Secrecy by government entities is often decried as excessive or in promotion of poor operation; excessive revelation of information on individuals can conflict with virtues of privacy and confidentiality. It is often contrasted with social transparency.

Etymology

The term secrecy (pronounced with a hard 'c') is derived from the Latin secretum, from seco, "to separate".

Secrecy in sociology and zoology

In sociology and zoology, scientists use the term secrecy for the construction of secret behaviors, secret societies, and structures where information is kept secret.

Secrecy in politics

In politics, secrecy is considered of prime importance. For instance, in United States politics, the Official Secrets Act or the Freedom of Information Act are among the most contentious legal aspects related to secrecy.

Secrecy in technology

In technology and cryptography, secrecy is often a prime concern, particularly with regard to sophisticated modern technology like computers and the internet.

See also

• Confidentiality
• Privacy
• Security
• Transparency (behavior)

References

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