What is a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality occurs when private and sensitive information is accessed or disclosed without authorization. This scenario can involve various forms of private data, including personal identification details, financial records, or health information. The key aspect of a breach of confidentiality is the unauthorized nature of the access, which can lead to potential harm or risk to individuals whose information is compromised.

When considering this definition, unauthorized access to private information directly aligns with the concept of a confidentiality breach. It highlights the importance of protecting sensitive data and maintaining the trust of individuals regarding how their information is handled.

The other options involve different aspects of data privacy. For instance, authorized information sharing refers to the acceptable exchange of information between parties that have received proper consent, thus not constituting a breach. Data retention beyond agreed terms relates to the improper storage of data but does not necessarily imply unauthorized access. Likewise, data collection without consent raises questions about lawful data acquisition practices, but it does not uniquely pertain to the unauthorized access scenario that defines a breach of confidentiality.