Súkromie

Súkromie, the Slovak term for privacy, denotes the state or condition in which individuals are free from unwanted interference in their personal life and decisions. It encompasses the ability to control personal information, as well as access to one’s physical space and communications. Conceptually, súkromie includes several dimensions: physical privacy (the private sphere and home), informational privacy (protection of personal data and communications), and decisional privacy (freedom to make personal choices).

In everyday life and increasingly in digital contexts, súkromie faces pressure from surveillance, data collection, and shared platforms. Online tracking, profiling, and data harvesting raise concerns about who can access personal information and for what purposes. The balance between privacy and other interests—security, innovation, and public health—shapes how súkromie is protected or limited.

Legal protection rests on European and national instruments. In the European Union, privacy is protected by fundamental rights and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Member states, including Slovakia, implement GDPR through domestic laws and regulations governing data processing, consent, and data subject rights.

Súkromie is widely regarded as a fundamental civil right essential to autonomy and dignity. Ongoing debates focus on findings that privacy can enable free expression and personal development while being weighed against legitimate societal interests such as crime prevention and innovation. The practical realization of súkromie requires transparent policies, informed consent, and robust data protection measures.