Information communicated through electronic mail may be marked with a notice indicating that its contents are protected by legal privilege and should be treated as private. This signifies that the message includes sensitive material intended solely for the recipient’s review and should not be disclosed to unauthorized parties. An example is a lawyer communicating with a client, where the exchanged information is shielded by attorney-client privilege, preventing its use as evidence in legal proceedings without client consent.
The use of such notices underscores the significance of data protection, especially in professional settings where sensitive communications occur regularly. These designations aim to reduce the risk of inadvertent disclosures, maintain compliance with regulations, and preserve the integrity of sensitive exchanges. Historically, the need for such markings has increased alongside the growth of digital communication and the corresponding risks associated with data breaches and privacy violations.