confidentiality
Confidentiality is the property of a message that it is only intended for a limited group of recipients. Distribution and publication are not permitted. Confidentiality is protected by legal norms , it can also be promoted or enforced by technical means.
Legal norms to protect confidentiality
In Germany, confidentiality is protected by several legal norms.
- Non-public utterances may not be recorded without the permission of the speaker (see for details on Breach of Confidentiality of the Word ).
- The confidentiality of mail is protected by the secrecy of letters , telephone calls and electronic transmissions are subject to telecommunications secrecy
- On the other hand, simply “telling” a message is only prohibited in clearly regulated exceptional cases, for example when it comes to state or business secrets. Then there may be a betrayal of secrets . Furthermore, communication with members of certain professional groups is particularly protected. There is medical confidentiality for conversations between doctor and patient, for conversations with clergy there is confessional secrecy , as well as further regulations for lawyers , journalists and banks , for mediators and other parties involved in mediation and some more (see detailed confidentiality ).
In the private sector, if the legal regulations on the betrayal of secrets are not considered sufficient, it is common to conclude so-called confidentiality agreements. These agreements regulate the payment of damages in the event of a breach of confidentiality.
Technical aspects to protect confidentiality
Confidentiality is also one of the three most important objectives in information security . It is defined as "the protection against unauthorized disclosure of information". Encryption supports this goal. More complex approaches are known as digital rights management .
Even if measures are used that guarantee confidentiality or are intended to contribute to it (such as encryption), it is possible that a so-called hidden channel is created. A hidden channel is a non-policy-compliant communication channel that can transmit confidential data to an unauthorized recipient. Side channels are a sub-area of the hidden channels.
Law enforcement: witnesses
The German public prosecutor's offices can guarantee confidentiality to witnesses, for example to protect them from reprisals, see key witnesses .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ BSI - IT Baseline Protection Compendium - Glossary. Retrieved April 16, 2019 .
- ↑ Steffen Wendzel: Tunnels and covered channels in the network, Springer-Vieweg, 2012.
