How do privacy and confidentiality differ in Title IX proceedings?

• A. Privacy limits sharing to those who need to know; confidentiality seeks to keep information private to a higher degree, within legal bounds.
• B. Privacy and confidentiality are the same.
• C. Confidentiality allows full disclosure to all staff.
• D. Privacy means never sharing any information.

Answer: (A)

In Title IX proceedings, the key idea is how information is protected and who can access it. Privacy means sharing information only with people who need to know to handle the case—like the Title IX coordinator, investigators, and other campus officials involved in the process. The aim is to keep details restricted to those essential to addressing the situation.

Confidentiality is a stronger commitment to protecting the information within a defined framework and within legal bounds. Those handling confidential information are bound to keep it private and to disclose it only in narrowly defined circumstances, such as to people who must know to investigate or resolve the matter, and as required by law or policy.

So, privacy is about limiting access to those who need to know, while confidentiality is about a higher level of protection for the information, with explicit limits on disclosure. This reflects why privacy and confidentiality are not the same, and why confidentiality does not mean sharing with all staff or never sharing at all.