The fundamental rights frameworks of the member states of the European Community, the Council of Europe, and the Community itself are characterized by the protectability of the private sphere. The extent of this protection in terms of its applicability is the subject of the investigation. Its focus is on the interpretation of the scope of the fundamental right to respect for private life as enshrined in Article 8(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights and the community fundamental right to respect for private life. The understandings of the scope of protection by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights are traced. In addition to a review of the literature, an independent determination of the scope of protection is conducted.