Visual Privacy

The safeguarding and management of sensitive visual information that could be shared or disclosed in everyday life, particularly through the use of assistive technologies and generative AI tools. For blind and low vision users, visual privacy encompasses multiple dimensions: protecting personal content visible in images (medical records, financial documents, personal items), managing self-presentation and appearance (impression management), controlling what environmental details are captured when scanning surroundings, and responsibly handling others' private visual information in professional contexts. Visual privacy extends beyond data protection to include emotional vulnerability, social signalling, and institutional accountability, making it a uniquely complex concern for users who cannot independently verify the visual information they are sharing.