The right to protection of confidentiality, involving any person mentioned in the documentation, is of great importance. The paper aims to outline the state of the art and to evaluate possible solutions for new improvements. The relationship between the rights of scientific research, the free expression of thought and the right to privacy of personal information are analyzed in legal terms, under Italian legislation, and in technological, just about the use of the technologies of the digital reproduction of documents, with particular attention to the concepts of communication and dissemination of personal data. The paper shows that the existing regulation framework fully meets the needs of protection of privacy, including in relation to technological changes taking place. Finally, it proposes strengthening instruments like the statement of informed consent and the elaboration of specific policies to ensure the highest possible protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]