Expanding Privacy Protection in the United States: Lessons from Abroad

Abstract

In a preliminary effort to define a global normative account of privacy, a comparison is undertaken between the protection privacy is accorded citizens of the United States and citizens of other countries. First, examples are drawn that illustrate how the interpretation of privacy in criminal cases of sodomy and abortion in the United States differs from national and international interpretations. Second, a description is made of different international legal approaches to protecting privacy. The significance of an international comparison for expanding privacy protection in the United States is discussed.