konfidensialiteten

Konfidensialiteten refers to the obligation to protect information from unauthorized disclosure and to limit access to those with a legitimate need to know. It is a fundamental principle in many professions, organizations, and legal frameworks, covering personal data, business secrets, and other sensitive communications.

Confidential information is typically distinguished from privacy and information security, though the concepts are related. It encompasses personal data, medical records, client communications, trade secrets, and internal strategies. The core idea is that information is shared only with authorized persons and used only for its intended purpose, with safeguards against accidental or deliberate leakage.

Legal and ethical foundations for konfidensialiteten vary by jurisdiction and context but commonly rely on data protection laws, professional ethics, and contractual obligations. Notable examples include the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), patient–provider confidentiality, attorney–client privilege, and journalist-source confidentiality. Violations can lead to penalties, civil liability, or professional discipline, and may require remediation measures.

Practices to maintain konfidentialiteten include implementing access controls and the need-to-know principle, using encryption and secure communication channels, minimizing collected data, anonymization where feasible, secure storage, clear data retention policies, and regular training. Organizations typically also maintain incident response plans and conduct audits to detect and address breaches.

Challenges to preserving konfidensialiteten arise from human factors such as social engineering, insider threats, and gaps in policy enforcement, as well as technical issues like data migrations, outsourcing, and cross-border transfers. Balancing confidentiality with transparency, safeguarding duties, and whistleblower protections can create complex tensions that require careful governance and context-driven safeguards.

See also: privacy, data protection, information security, professional ethics, confidentiality agreements.