An inter-node privacy communication method, including a network node processing a data packet according to the role of the network node in a communication path of privacy communication; if the node is a communication source node, acquiring, according to node identities in an identity quadruple, a key for encryption, and encrypting and sending the data packet; if the node is the first switch device or the last switch device, and an end-to-end privacy communication policy is valid, directly forwarding the data packet, and if the policy is invalid, acquiring a key for decryption, and receiving and decrypting the data packet, and acquiring, a key for encryption, and encrypting and sending the data packet; if the node is a middle switch device directly forwarding the data packet; and if the node is a communication destination node, acquiring a key for decryption, and receiving and decrypting the data packet.