Why do objects of the same class have access to each other’s private data?

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Because that’s how it works in C++. In C++ access control works on per-class basis, not on per-object basis.

Access control in C++ is implemented as a static, compile-time feature. I think it is rather obvious that it is not really possible to implement any meaningful per-object access control at compile time. Only per-class control can be implemented that way.

Some hints of per-object control are present in protected access specification, which is why it even has its own dedicated chapter in the standard (11.5). But still any per-object features described there are rather rudimentary. Again, access control in C++ is meant to work on per-class basis.

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