Yes, I know this IoT Device Might Invade my Privacy, but I Love it Anyway! A Study of Saudi Arabian Perceptions

The Internet of Things (IoT) ability to monitor our every move raises many privacy concerns. This paper reports on a study to assess current awareness of privacy implications of IoT devices amongst Saudi Arabians. We found that even when users are aware of the potential for privacy invasion, their need for the convenience these devices afford leads them to discount this potential and to ignore any concerns they might initially have had. We then conclude by making some predictions about the direction the IoT field will take in the next 5-7 years, in terms of privacy invasion, protection and awareness

Privacy of the Internet of Things: A Systematic Literature Review

The Internet of Things’ potential for major privacy invasion is a concern. This paper reports on a systematic literature review of privacy-preserving solutions appearing in the research literature and in the media. We analysed proposed solutions in terms of the techniques they deployed and the extent to which they satisfied core privacy principles. We found that very few solutions satisfied all core privacy principles. We also identified a number of key knowledge gaps in the course of the analysis. In particular, we found that most solution providers assumed that end users would be willing to expend effort to preserve their privacy; that they would be motivated to take action to ensure that their privacy was respected. The validity of this assumption needs to be proved, since it cannot simply be assumed that people would necessarily be willing to engage with privacy-preserving solutions. We suggest this as a topic for future research

The privacy paradox applies to IoT devices too:a Saudi Arabian study

The “privacy paradox” is the term used to describe the disconnect between self-reported privacy value attributions and actions actually taken to protect and preserve personal privacy. This phenomenon has been investigated in a number of domains and we extend the body of research with an investigation in the IoT domain. We presented participants with evidence of a specific IoT device’s (smart plug) privacy violations and then measured changes in privacy concerns and trust, as well as uptake of a range of behavioural responses. Our Saudi Arabian participants, despite expressing high levels of privacy concerns, generally chose not to respond to this evidence with preventative action. Most preferred to retain the functionality the smart device offered, effectively choosing to tolerate likely privacy violations. Moreover, while the improved awareness increased privacy concerns and reduced trust in the device straight after the experiment, these had regressed to pre-awareness levels a month later. Our study confirms the existence of the privacy paradox in the Saudi Arabian IoT domain, and also reveals the limited influence awareness raising exerts on long-term privacy concern and trust levels

The privacy paradox : we claim we care about our data, so why don't our actions match?

Imagine how you'd feel if you discovered footage from your private home security camera had been broadcast over the internet. This is exactly what happened to several unsuspecting Australians last month, when the website Insecam streamed their personal lives online. According to an ABC report, Insecam broadcasts live streams of dozens of Australian businesses and homes at any given time. Some cameras can be accessed because owners don't secure them. Some may be hacked into despite being "secured"

The impact of the adoption of Internet of Things privacy awareness model in Saudi Arabia: an experimental study

This study is designed to present an Internet of Things (IoT) privacy-awareness model and to look at the impact of the adoption of that Internet of Things (IoT) privacy awareness model in Saudi Arabia. Some developers have assumed that IoT users are aware of privacy issues related to IoT and that they will adopt new applications or techniques proposed to protect IoT users' privacy. This study has presented an approach to enhance IoT privacy awareness and to measure the impact of the adoption of IoT privacy-preserving techniques. To better understand the effectiveness of awareness and the impact of this adoption, trust, concern for information privacy, and response to privacy invasion have all been investigated. The main Research Question of this study is: To what extent consumers in Saudi Arabia are aware of potential IoT privacy violations and, if they do become aware, would they value and use a tool that explicitly prevents privacy invasions perpetrated by IoT devices? To address the factors impacting on the adoption of the privacy-awareness model, an experimental study was designed to increase the awareness of the participants about these privacy issues, and to measure the impacts on any intentions to use a privacy-preserving technique by measuring the participants level of trust and their privacy concerns. The population of this study was Saudi adult consumers of smart devices because Saudi Arabia is newly engaged in many Internet-connected projects, and there are no existing privacy or data protection laws. The study concludes that although there is a statistically significant impact of IoT privacy awareness on the adoption of a privacy-preserving technique, it is not the predominant factor, and consumers often trade privacy for convenience. The study finishes by providing ten recommendations to enhance future studies in this area