Privacy Laws in Florida
Privacy laws deal with the protection and preservation of an individual's right to privacy. The right to privacy protects an individual's right to be left alone and the management of her personal information. Personal information includes workplace monitoring, Internet privacy, data collection, financial information, medical information and other personal information collected by government institutions or private organizations.
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Driver Privacy Protection Act
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A person's personal information cannot be accessed through a driver's license. Personal information includes a person's Social Security number, driver's license or identification card number, name, address, telephone number, medical or disability information, and emergency contact information that is in the driver's license file. The information that is not protected by the privacy laws includes vehicular crashes, driving violations and driver's status. However, certain people and organizations may have access to an individual's records. These include auto manufacturers conducting a recall of parts or vehicles, government agencies or private investigators with proper credentials and reasonable cause (e.g., if your car was stolen), a legitimate business verifying information for employment purposes, insurance agencies, towing companies, companies such as bus lines that may need information about their commercial drivers and a person or agency that you have given written permission to access the information.
Celebrity Privacy
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Privacy laws are more flexible when it comes to celebrities. This is because their activities are considered of interest to the public, thus generating news. They also voluntarily place themselves in the public eye. A non-public person, on the other hand, is protected by the Florida privacy laws against intrusion into his private affairs, public disclosure of embarrassing private information, publicity which puts him in a false light to the public and the use of his name or picture for personal or commercial advantage.
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Information Privacy
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An individual's personal data such as credit information and medical and government records is protected. This is also known as data protection. Bodily privacy is an individual's right against invasive procedures such as genetic tests, drug testing and cavity searches. Privacy of communications includes the privacy of a person's mail, phone conversations, e-mails and other forms of communication. According to the 2009 Florida Statutes, Security of Communications, the interception of communications has to be authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction and should remain under the control and supervision of the authorizing court in order to safeguard the privacy of innocent people. The interception should be justified, the information cannot be misused and the interception must be confined to certain major types of offenses and specific categories of crime.
Territorial Privacy
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An individual has a right to privacy in her home, workplace and other public spaces. She may not be searched, be put under video surveillance or be submitted to ID checks. Florida law states that the right of people to be secure in their persons, papers, houses and effects against unreasonable interception of private communications by any means shall not be violated.
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References
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