Der Schutz der Privatheit im Zivilrecht

The right to privacy is a fundamental constituent of personal freedom and autonomy. However the substance of this right as well as its relationship to other personal interests, such as reputation or personal identity, have not yet been defined. Analyzing German, American and English law, which has only recently recognized the right to privacy by incorporating the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms into its own law, the author develops a modern approach to privacy based on the notion of »informational self-determination«. Recognizing the fact that personal information has become a valuable commodity in modern society, the author also discusses possible remedial consequences of an infringement of the right to privacy.