Public disclosure of private information is a form of which tort?

• A. Invasion of Privacy
• B. Libel
• C. Slander
• D. Privileged Communication

Answer: (A)

Public disclosure of private information is invasion of privacy. This tort happens when someone reveals intimate facts about another person to the public without a legitimate public interest, and those facts are private enough that their disclosure would be highly offensive. Importantly, the information doesn’t have to be false for this to be actionable—the issue is the invasion of private facts, not a false statement.

Defamation, which includes libel (written) and slander (spoken), involves false statements that harm a person’s reputation. Privileged communication refers to disclosures that are protected by law in certain relationships or contexts and aren’t subject to liability.