It does in fact enable privacy by default. If you want to show someone the details of a transaction or an address balance, you have to provide viewkeys.
> I'm personally a big fan of
Now your comment reads like an attempt to shill, which would explain the misinformation about Monero.
According to HN's rules, I have to assume you have better intentions than that. Please explain what you meant, since I must have misunderstood you.