The approaches taken in Europe to privacy are clearly different than in the United States. In Europe, privacy is seen as a right, and as a right, it trumps other personal and societal values. In contrast, in the United States, many people see privacy as one value among many, and as such, must be balanced against other competing interests. While citizens and policymakers on different sides of the Atlantic may disagree on these broad frameworks for privacy, both should still agree on the goal of protecting the privacy of individuals while minimizing the burdens on businesses and other organizations.
