An Experiment Series on App Information Privacy Concerns

The diffusion of smart mobile devices and therewith apps into everyday life comes along with the permanent disclosure of sensitive and personal data. Despite the concerns individuals have regarding their information privacy, they act oppositional. However, through the permanent disclosure of sensitive and personal information, privacy of individuals is at risk. The risk of privacy is intensified by the classification of the mobile app download and the usage decision processing as low effort processes without much deliberation. Therefore, the article follows the call of Dinev et al. (2015) to consider principles from behavioural economics and social psychology to investigate its influences on privacy decisions. This is operationalised with six independent experiments to examine the influence of cognitive biases on app information privacy concerns. The results support the underlying assumption of app decision-making as a low effort process and confirmed that different stimuli do influence privacy concerns of individuals. This research contributes to the increasing importance of understanding individ-uals’ behaviour in digital ecosystems

The Technology Integration Model (TIM): predicting the continued use of technology

The human-computer relationship is often convoluted and despite decades of progress, many relation- ships relating to continued use are unclear and poorly defined. This may be due to a lack of interdisci- plinary collaboration, especially from a theoretical standpoint between computer science and psychology. Following a review of existing theories that attempt to explain continued technology use, we developed the Technology Integration Model (TIM). In sum, the main objective of TIM is to outline the processes behind continued technology use in an individual's everyday life. Here we present the model alongside a description of its scope and the relationships between constructs. This can help generate research questions relating to technology use while simultaneously addressing many previous short- comings of existing models. As a unifying theory, TIM can quickly be adopted by researchers and developers when designing and implementing new technologie

Privacy concerns, dead or misunderstood?: The perceptions of privacy amongst the young and old

The concept of ‘privacy’ has become an important topic for academics and policy-makers. Ubiquitous computing and internet access raise new questions in relation to privacy in the virtual world, including individuals’ appreciation of privacy and how this can be safeguarded. This article contributes to the debate by reporting survey data relating to the attitudes of adolescents, young adults and adults in the Netherlands in relation to privacy, freedom and security. This data aims at determining the appreciation of privacy amongst young and old. Data was collected through an online survey of 1,002 12 to 83 year-olds in 2012. The results show that adolescents are less concerned about their privacy than young adults and adults. However, all three age categories reported that privacy was a lesser concern than both freedom and security. The article presents important insights into the different attitudes towards privacy amongst the noted age groups, and therefore offers a commentary on their online behaviour. As such, the analysis is relevant for those with responsibility for the governance of individual privacy on the Internet

Understanding Ecommerce Consumer Privacy From the Behavioral Marketers\u27 Viewpoint

Ecommerce sales were expected to increase to $4.8 trillion dollars in 2021 for online retailers in the United States. Behavioral marketers increase sales and revenue by targeting potential customers based on the use of ecommerce consumers\u27 personal information. This correlational research study was framed with the theory of planned behavior. The participants were behavioral marketers based in the United States who completed an online survey. The data were analyzed using multiple regressions and analysis of variance analyses to answer the research question. The results of the analysis answered the research question regarding the correlation between behavioral marketer\u27s attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC), especially concerning the collection of ecommerce consumers\u27 personal information. The results of the analyses indicated attitude is a strong predictor for behavior intention, as indicated by a positive correlation. The ρ value was greater than .05; therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The social norms and PBC variables were not significant. Social norms resulted in F (14,18) = 2.298, ρ = .026. The p value is less than .05; therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted. PBC results were F (78,5) = 4.263, ρ = .048. The p value was less than .05; therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted. The findings showed that behavioral marketers have a strong correlation between their attitude and intention to protect ecommerce privacy. Behavioral managers might benefit from this study and contribute to social change by taking the lead in their organizations to change data collection methods to reduce the number of security breaches

The Privacy Paradox: Factors influencing information disclosure in the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in South Africa

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been acknowledged as one of the most innovative forms of technology since the computer, because of the influence it can have on multiple sectors of physical and virtual environments. The growth of IoT is expected to continue, by 2020 the number of connected devices is estimated to reach 50 billion. Recent developments in IoT provide an unprecedented opportunity for personalised services and other benefits. To exploit these potential benefits as best as possible, individuals are willing to provide their personal information despite potential privacy breaches. Therefore, this paper examines factors that influence the willingness to disclose personal information in the use of IoT in South Africa (SA) with the use of the privacy calculus as the theoretical underpinnings of this research. The privacy calculus accentuates that a risk-benefit trade off occurs when an individual decides to disclose their personal information, however, it is assumed that there are more factors than perceived risks and perceived benefits that influence information disclosure. After analysing previous literature, this study identified the following factors; information sensitivity, privacy concerns, social influence, perceived benefits, (perceived) privacy risks and privacy knowledge as possible key tenants in relation to willingness to disclose personal information. This research took on an objective ontological view, with the underlying epistemological stance being positivistic. The research incorporated a deductive approach, employing the use of a conceptual model which was constructed from a combination of studies orientated around privacy, the privacy calculus and the privacy paradox. Data for this research was collected using the quantitative research approach, through the use of an anonymous online questionnaire, where the targeted population was narrowed down to the general public residing within SA that make use of IoT devices and/or services. Data was collected using Qualtrics and analysed using SmartPLS 3. SmartPLS 3 was used to test for correlations between the factors which influence information disclosure in the use of IoT by utilising the complete bootstrapping method. A key finding was that the privacy paradox is apparent within SA, where individuals pursue enjoyment and predominantly use IoT for leisure purposes, while individuals are more likely to adopt self-withdrawal tendencies when faced with heightened privacy concerns or potential risks

Privacy in Multigenerational Homes Before and Amidst COVID-19

Multigenerational households in the United States are more prevalent now than they have been in the last forty years. In part, aging, illness, job loss, saving money, and even tradition are factors that contribute to the idea of multiple generations living together in one home. Given the health of the individuals, size of the home, and number of dedicated bedrooms and bathrooms, living multigenerational can have both positive and adverse effects. Many family groups fall into the category of multigenerational living. However, this study investigates the relationships between adults and senior family members in terms of privacy in the home. Factors affecting privacy include crowding, territoriality, autonomy, physical, and psychological privacy. Additional stressors that were studied include the current state of affairs in the United States—COVID-19. These topics were analyzed in relation to home design strategies to alleviate privacy concerns and reduce household tension. An online survey and phone interviews were used to gather research data through a variety of social media sites. In regards to COVID-19 and the multigenerational home, statistical analysis indicated that concern over spreading COVID-19 to seniors in the home has kept individuals more socially isolated. Data also supported a relationship between the number of hours worked from home due to COVID-19 and stress in a multigenerational household. Pertaining to crowding and privacy in a multigenerational home, data support that adult children in homes without a dedicated space, other than a bedroom or bathroom, are more likely to believe noise is a problem. Data also support there is a relationship between stress levels and dedicated bedrooms and bathrooms in the home as well as between the perception of privacy and the number of people in the home. In relation to caring for seniors in a multigenerational home, evidence supports grab bars and handrails to be the most common minor renovations made in multigenerational homes, and married female individuals are more likely to care for a senior parent than unmarried females. Data do not support the hypothesis that individuals do not feel very educated on products to aid senior independence or that when the senior in a home has more autonomy, the adult child feels less crowded in the home than seniors that require help changing, bathing, using the toilet facilities, and/or with transportation

Attitudes and perceptions towards privacy and surveillance in Australia

Understanding attitudes towards privacy and surveillance technologies used to enhance security objectives is a complex, but crucial aspect for policy makers to consider. Historically, terrorism-related incidents justified the uptake of surveillance practices. More recently however, biosecurity concerns have motivated nation-states to adopt more intrusive surveillance measures. There is a growing body of literature that supports the public’s desire to maintain privacy despite fears of biological or physical threats. This research set out to explore attitudes towards privacy and surveillance in an Australian context. Throughout the course of this endeavour, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged bringing with it a variety of track and trace technologies, not seen before in our history. Furthermore, attitudinal research during this unprecedented time is unique and therefore, offered an opportunity to gain insight into attitudes across a spectrum of privacy- and surveillance-related concerns. In this vein, a national survey was undertaken throughout 2021 that explored privacy and surveillance attitudes in Australia encapsulating various aspects of pandemic surveillance. Various themes within the realm of privacy and surveillance research have emerged as influential elements shaping individual attitudes. These themes not only possess reflective and formative characteristics but also contribute to the establishment of several quantifiable constructs. The convergence of these themes and attitudinal attributes resulted in the development of a theoretical framework, the “Privacy Attitude Model”. This model is a product of comprehensive research into privacy, security, and surveillance, serving as the foundation of the survey instrument. It is expected that this model will be adaptable for future research, enriching the existing knowledge in this domain. The study discovered that the level of trust individuals place in institutions influences their apprehensions regarding surveillance. Those who possess higher levels of trust are generally more receptive to surveillance practices. However, there is noteworthy evidence indicating a decline in overall trust. As a result, it becomes imperative to undertake every possible measure to uphold public confidence. Amid these considerations, the concept of data sovereignty has emerged as a contentious topic. A substantial portion of survey respondents found it challenging to comprehend data management methodologies and express a strong preference for preventing the offshore transfer of their personal information. Furthermore, they desire increased control over their data. The vast majority of respondents expressed a strong desire to have the power to opt out of surveillance involving image capture. This desire is fundamentally rooted in the issue of consent

Examining individual differences through ‘everyday’ smartphone behaviours: Exploring theories and methods.

The mass adoption of digital technologies has instigated a transition whereby people are no longer ‘independent organic actors’ in society but have amalgamated with the technology they use on a daily basis. Consequently, people leave behind a ‘digital fingerprint’ whenever they use technologies such as smartphones, and the qualities of this trace can predict a variety of characteristics about the user. In this thesis, I explore how individual differences such as personality, demographics, and health relate to directly observable smartphone behaviours, that are logged ‘in situ’ via software installed on the device itself. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach between psychology and computer science, this thesis primarily considers the theoretical (chapter two), ethical (chapter three) and methodological (chapter four) underpinnings required to explore these human-smartphone relationships. Notably, traces of use do not have to be complex, as meta-data such as the smartphone operating system a person uses can reveal information regarding a user’s personality, as long as there is trace-to-trait relevance. Findings from chapters five and six also reveal that some individual differences can be better predicted from objective smartphone use than others. For example, age and gender can be discerned from smartphone usage logs whereas, mental health variables only had small positive correlations with smartphone screen time. However, an important contribution of this thesis resides in its methodological considerations, as self-reports of technology use can impact the relationships with individual differences and cannot be used as a substitute for objective logs. All the above has applied implications for security and health, which can benefit from the ability to infer characteristics about people, when self-reports are arduous, unfeasible or lack scientific rigour