The disclosure relates to software that provides fine-grained user control over when and how a software-based privacy filter is used to reduce clarity and/or visibility associated with content rendered on a display screen. For example, according to various aspects, the software may have access to the display screen and various other components that can be used to detect and/or track a current context associated with information displayed on the screen. As such, based on the current context, the software may determine an area displayed on a screen having current interest to one or more authorized users and activate a software-based privacy filter configured to reduce the clarity and/or visibility associated with information displayed on the screen outside the area having the current interest to the one or more authorized users as needed (e.g., based on a sensitivity level associated with the displayed information, sensor-based inputs indicating a sensitive context, etc.).