Principle 5: Visibility and Transparency

Users cannot exercise privacy rights they don't understand. This principle requires that data practices be visible and understandable to users. Transparency goes beyond legal privacy notices to encompass user-friendly dashboards, clear consent interfaces, and proactive communication about data use. The goal is informed user participation in privacy decisions.

Implementing transparency requires both technical and design excellence. Privacy dashboards should present complex data relationships in understandable ways. Just-in-time notices can explain data collection at the moment it occurs. Data flow visualizations can help users understand how their information moves through systems. These transparency features should be accessible to users with varying technical expertise.